Senator Raffy Tulfo yesterday warned that massive power outages nationwide have threatened the country’s national security and the health of the public.
He said the brownouts in different provinces are becoming a serious national security threat.
Tulfo cautioned against terrorists, insurgents, and other criminal elements who might take advantage of this situation.
“Lawless elements might grab this opportunity to do their terroristic acts and other criminal activities during brownouts.
He said they might attack police stations, military outposts, and other government facilities. Tulfo also raised the alarm on the adverse effects of persistent and rotational brownouts to the health and safety of the Filipinos, especially the poor.
“This is a big threat in the safety of our poor people especially patients in hospitals, clinics, or centers which have no generator,” said Tulfo.
He said this would endanger the lives of patients particularly those in the middle of a medical procedure.
Due to these threats, Tulfo underscored the need to focus on and stop this problem.
Tulfo, the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Energy, said authorities had simply ignored this problem so that it was aggravated.
He stressed the government’s failure to properly address the recurring long periods of brown outs could seriously affect the maintenance of peace and order in the country.
Since he assumed the chairmanship of the said committee, Tulfo has already called out officials from underperforming electric cooperatives like Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (ORMECO).
He vowed to get to the bottom of the problems on power outages.
In fact, he already filed Senate Resolution (PSR) No. 107 calling for a probe into the rotational blackouts in different parts of the country, as well as the rising cost of electricity amid these power interruptions
Under his watch, the neophyte senator reiterated that he will do everything in his power to lessen the suffering of Filipino consumers and protect national security.
Tulfo is will set a Senate investigation on the recurring problems on power outages in far-flung areas this coming week.