Ilonggo News

Children laws hamper police work vs TBS gang

2010-11-26T09:38:00.000+08:00

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

PRESENT laws governing children in conflict with the law are affecting efforts by law enforcers to bring them to justice for the crimes they committed.

S/Supt. Dennis Basngi, Iloilo City Police Office director, said while they want to nail down members of the dreaded TBS-13 gang for cabbie robbery and killings and other crimes they committed, “we are constrained by the provisions of the law on minor offenders.”

Basngi was referring to Republic Act 9344 (Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006) which sets the rules in dealing with minors involved in crimes.

Under this law, children below 18 years old who commit crime cannot be deemed as ordinary criminals and must undergo rehabilitation before they face trial.

Basngi said while the police are monitoring the TBS-13 gang’s movements and activities they cannot just arrest them because of the law.

“If we arrest them, we cannot bring them to court because we have to wait until they are of the majority age, which is 18 years old,” he added.

In order to prevent gangsters from influencing the youth, Basngi said they will mount symposia in schools regarding the concern.

“We will inform the teachers, students and their parents on how to spot and stop gangsters from recruiting our young people. They must know about their mannerisms, identifying marks and the likes. The police is doing all it can do to prevent them from committing crimes but we must also go back to our schools and homes to stop these gangs from recruiting more neophytes,” he added.

The ICPO will also dialogue with taxi drivers on how to spot TBS members and other gangs.

Basngi said TBS members and neophytes out for targets for their initiation rites are usually in groups of three or four.

“It’s easy to spot them because one of them might look or act mature while the rest are like baguhan or newbies. Our drivers should be extra cautious when a group like this hails them for a ride,” the ICPO chief said.

The ICPO speakers’ bureau will go the rounds Iloilo City starting next week, Basngi said.

‘They bathed with blood of victim’

2010-11-26T09:32:00.002+08:00

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

SIMILAR to satanic cult rituals, members of the notorious TBS-13 bathed themselves with the blood of a taxi driver who hailed from Guimaras province.

Based on the latest autopsy report, Ken, 15, Toto, 17, and John, 14, (not their real names) stabbed and slashed driver Walter Ermita 28 times using a knife fashioned from scissor blades.

Ermita suffered 22 stab wounds and 6 slash wounds in various parts of his body, according to Dr. Noel Martinez, PNP medico legal officer.

The wounds which may have killed Ermita were in his left check, neck and chest.

Martinez said the wounds have different width but with identical depth, indicating the possibility that more than one weapon was used in killing the victim.

The medico legal officer said the suspects are not professional or “skilled” killers because of the numerous wounds inflicted on the victim.

“A professional killer will only inflict one or two blows to eliminate the victim,” he added.

The three suspects, who are now in the custody of an institution catering to children in conflict with the law, were tagged to Ermita’s death after witnesses saw them fleeing from his taxi parked at Villa Carolina Subdivision, Arevalo, Iloilo City.

The witnesses also saw blood in the suspect’s clothing and face while they were escaping.

Ken is believed to be a full-fledged member of the TBS-13 gang and was supervising the final initiation rites of neophytes Toto and John.

Robbing and killing taxi drivers are part of TBS-13’s initiation rites, according to information gathered by the Iloilo City Police Office.

‘San Enrique 17’ cleared in illegal firearms case

2010-11-26T09:31:00.000+08:00

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

THE Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor’s Office (IPPO) dismissed the criminal charges against the so-called “San Enrique 17” who were accused of carrying illegal firearms last May 10 elections in San Enrique, Iloilo.

In a resolution submitted and approved last August 23 but only released recently, Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Edwin M. Sustituya dumped the charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives and violation of the election gun ban against the San Enrique 17.

The prosecutor said the “evidence submitted falls short of the quantum of proof required for the finding of probable cause against the respondents.”

The San Enrique 17 are Lino Savillano, Charles Pacaonses, Rolly Delatina, Antonio Sainz, Primitivo Alaro, Ruben Asupardo, Dionisio Dayaday, Jesus Maximo, Reynaldo Palmes, Rolly Fegarido, Gilbert Lara, Joebert Cornella, Larry Cala-or, Carlos Sumagpao, Virgilio Osano III, Andy Casanova and Elmer Carillo.

They wee allegedly involved in a standoff against the supporters of San Enrique mayoralty bet Rolando Cordero last May 10 at Brgy. Garita, San Enrique.

They were onboard three vehicles with no registration plates which later yielded high-powered firearms and explosives in subsequent searches by the police.

In the resolution, the prosecutor noted that the police implemented illegal searches and arrests against the respondents.

“Basic is the rule that a search and seizure must be supported by a valid search warrant, with of course some recognized exceptions, one of which is search as an incident to lawful arrest,” the resolution said.

The prosecutor said neither of the conditions was observed by the police when they arrested the San Enrique 17 and searched their vehicles.

“…It is apparent that they (police) only effected the arrest of the above-named respondents after the search was made. Neither had they implemented a lawful warrant-less arrest. Clearly, passengers cannot be arrested for boarding a vehicle without plate number. Basically, where the arrest is incipiently illegal, it logically follows that the subsequent search is similarly illegal it being not incidental to a lawful arrest,” it said.

Arrogance

2010-11-24T23:01:00.000+08:00

Heavily armed security guards of the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) gestures for members of the Iloilo media to get out of the building and blocked them from accompanying Atty. Gerry Sumaculub, chief sheriff, to serve the temporary restraining order Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Tara Yap)

By Francis Allan L. Angelo
The Daily Guardian/November 25, 2010
YESTERDAY’S display of arrogance by the management of Metro Iloilo Water District towards legitimate media practitioners is an insult to democracy and a big slap on the Aquino administration which acknowledges the public as its boss.

TDG photographer-reporter Tara Yap, Bombo Radyo’s John Talento, Aksyon Radyo’s Febe Morales, and ABS-CBN’s John Mark Guda with cameraman Stephen Somcio were there to gather news, not to oust any director or manager of MIWD.

Preventing them from documenting the service of a court order smacks of conceit and contravenes the policy of transparency that we expect from public entities like MIWD.

It seems that the management team headed by Engr. Le Jayme Jalbuena is suffering from double standard of public service.

Last week, the management team worked overtime on a holiday to invite the media and announce the ouster of the MIWD board of directors and the installation of an interim board.

Only the members of the Javelosa-led board were barred from entering the MIWD premises which was built using public funds.

After the court overturned the ouster of the Javelosa board, the MIWD management suddenly became reclusive and refused to let the media get inside their office.

Maybe Jalbuena thinks that his office is the extension of his home.

I’m sorry, sir, because the comfortable swivel chair you’re sitting on and the air-conditioning system that keeps you cool were bought using public funds. Ditto with your salaries and benefits.

The act of the MIWD management to bar the media from entering their office to cover a significant event that affects public welfare only shows what kind of public servants they are.

The management team violated the constitutional right of the people to information and the freedom of the press.

The management also violated civil service rules on transparent governance and faithful service to their employers – the public.

We don’t mind if you require us to register or wear visitor’s ID when we enter your premises. After all, we will not shirk from security measures you impose because we are not terrorists. We are journalists.

But to prevent us from entering a government office so we can gather information for public consumption is like martial rule. Are the Ampatuans already in MIWD?

The action of the MIWD management trampled our right to know what is happening in government offices and the conduct of civil servants who fatten themselves with public funds.

This incident should solidify the ranks of the Iloilo media lest it will happen again with impunity.

We call on the Civil Service Commission and the Commission on Human Rights to look into this matter and impose disciplinary actions on people responsible for this brouhaha.

President Aquino said in his inaugural speech: “Kayo ang boss ko (You are my boss).”

I wonder if MIWD managers think of themselves as gods.

EVIL RITES

2010-11-24T22:48:00.000+08:00

Beware of TBS gang

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

THE Police Regional Office (PRO-6) warned parents and schools to prevent student hooliganism following the death of a taxi driver in the hands of three teenage gangsters Tuesday.

C/Supt. Cipriano Querol, PRO-6 director, said parents and teachers are key players in preventing students from joining gangs such as the True Brown Style (TBS-13).

Based on PRO-6 records, the TBS-13, which is a copycat of a Metro Manila-based gang, is tagged to 13 of the 14 cases of taxi driver robberies and killings in the city and province of Iloilo.

On Tuesday, the Arevalo police in Iloilo City arrested three minors suspected of stabbing to death cabbie Welter Ermita inside a subdivision in the district.

One of the suspects is an alleged TBS-13 member while two others are neophytes undergoing initiation rites.

Their final rite of passage was the robbery and killing of Ermita, according to the Arevalo police.

Querol said parents and teachers should educate minors not to join gangs and orient them on basic safety tips against criminals

Querol said the TBS gang recruits minors and requires them to commit crimes, such as robbing and killing taxi drivers, as part of their initiation rites.

The PRO-6 had received information that the initiation rites of TBS gang also include rape of would-be female members.

“It is alarming that the activities of TBS gang also indicate the possibility of kidnapping as part of the initiation rites of neophytes,” he added.

Querol had directed the Police-Community Relations Division and the Women and Children Protection Desk to initiate dialogues with school principals and officers of Parents-Teachers Association in relation to the growing concern of TBS gangsters.

“We have also instructed all Chiefs of Police to initiate dialogues in their respective areas as part of our prevention efforts,” he added.

Querol said the TBS gang is expected to expand its membership, especially in Bacolod City and other urban areas.

MIWD management defiant, courting contempt

2010-11-24T22:25:00.000+08:00

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

THE management team of Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) will not recognize the board of directors despite a court order restraining the interim board.

MIWD general manager Le Jayme Jalbuena said over Aksyon Radyo that they will not allow the board of directors led by Celso Javelosa from entering MIWD premises.

Jalbuena said the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Edgardo Catilo did not direct the re-installation of the Javelosa board.

Instead, the TRO only prevented the interim board led by Emmanuel Malicdem of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) from functioning, Jalbuena said.

Jalbuena said they ordered MIWD security guards to bar the Javelosa-led and interim boards from entering the building.

“The court order did not direct the old board to return and assume their functions. We will not recognize them because the main issue in the case they filed has yet to be resolved,” he added.

Jalbuena said the Javelosa board can hold their own meeting but not inside the MIWD office.

“If they want to hold a board meeting, they can do it outside.”

Atty. Hans Sayno, corporate secretary of the Javelosa board, cautioned Jalbuena from violating the court order lest he will suffer the consequences of his actions.

Sayno said the court order was clear that the interim board will cease from functioning since the ouster of the Javelosa board is still being questioned.

Adrian Moncada, vice chairman of the Javelosa board, said they will hold a meeting at the MIWD office despite the defiance of the management team.

Moncada said the management must be careful with their actions because they might be held in contempt of the court.

Coal plant’s ambient air within standards

2010-11-24T22:23:00.000+08:00

By Tara Yap

THE ambient air quality within several villages surrounding the 164-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Ingore, La Paz, Iloilo City is normal.

This is according to result of the third party monitoring team, which conducted the air test during the coal plant’s retesting last October 14-16.

While the multipartite monitoring team (MMT) will not release the official results from the third party monitoring team, MMT member and Community Environment and Natural Resources office chief for Iloilo City Bernabe H. Garnace confirmed that the air quality is normal.

“So far, the report revealed that the ambient quality at the time of testing were well within the standards of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),” Garnace said.

“Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and total suspended solids (TSS) are all normal,” Garnace noted.

However, Garnace said that noise level data were slightly over the standard decibel during the time of testing.

“The results do not necessarily remain the same after the testing,” Garnace said.

Garnace assured that the MMT will publicly release its recommendation once it has thoroughly reviewed the results.

Bomb scare alarms Iloilo town

2010-11-24T22:21:00.000+08:00

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

A PACKAGE mistaken for a bomb caused alarm in the town of Cabatuan, Iloilo Wednesday afternoon.

S/Insp. Alejandro Apostol, Cabatuan police chief, said the red luggage came from Manila via a roll on-roll off (RO-RO) bus and was left in the bus terminal in the town proper.

Witnesses in the terminal said an unidentified bus conductor left the bag on the street sans proper endorsement.

Passengers and terminal personnel then called the police after noticing that nobody claimed the bag lying on the street.

Apostol said they went to the terminal to check the luggage. They were surprised after they saw a note inside the package saying: “Oops… Reminder, do not try to open this. Granada inside. Hehehe.”

Apostol said they immediately cordoned the area and called bomb experts from the Iloilo Provincial Police Office after discovering the “bomb note.”

The police also re-routed vehicular traffic away from the area per advice of the IPPO Explosive and Ordnance Team.

The package was sent by Melba Lagunday from Manila to his mother Mejelita Lagunday of Brgy. Buntalan, Maasin.

Mejelita said the bag contained clothes and books, not grenades.

The note was intended to prevent anybody from opening a pack of chocolates inside the package.

“She just wanted to scare those who want to steal from the bag. There was no intention to hurt or cause alarm. I’ve been waiting for this bag for hours already,” Mejelita said.

Mejelita also blamed the conductor for leaving the bag without properly endorsing it to the terminal.

The situation returned to normal after the police retrieved the bag and cleared the area.

Hostage drama wounds tanod

2010-11-24T22:20:00.000+08:00

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

A MAN believed to be suffering from unstable mental condition held hostage his own aunt and four others and wounded a barangay tanod (village watchman) in Molo, Iloilo City early Wednesday morning.

Suspect Winston Suri, 34, a native of Jaro, Iloilo City, went to the house of his aunt Celia Guevarra at Brgy. Boulevard, Molo Tuesday to seek refuge from unidentified persons who he claimed were chasing him.

At around 1am Wednesday, Suri threatened and held Guevarra and four other persons hostage using a caliber .38 revolver.

Neighbors and barangay officials responded to the scene after sensing that something was amiss in Guevarra’s house.

Tanod Jun Togonon was wounded in the right portion of his chest when he responded to the incident. He was rushed to the Western Visayas Medical Center for treatment.

The incident tested the PNP-media protocol on crisis situations, particularly during the 4-hour standoff and negotiation with Suri.

S/Insp. Roden Siason and Insp. Nestor Santasierra of the Molo PNP acted as ground commanders and negotiators.

Suri initially released his aunt’s family members upon convincing of the police. After granting his demand to bring in his wife, the suspect eventually released Guevarra past 3am.

Suri yielded to the police past 5:30am after his wife pleaded for him to give up.

The suspect’s family said he had a bout with nervous breakdown and had been anxious the past days.

Siason said they are thankful that the incident ended without loss of life. He also credited his personnel and the media for observing the crisis protocol, particularly the off limit zone.

Suri was brought to the hospital for treatment.

RTC stops interim board of MIWD

2010-11-23T23:59:00.003+08:00

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

THE board of directors of Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) that was ousted a week ago regained their seats after the Regional Trial Court issued a 20-day temporary restraining order (TRO) against the “interim board” installed by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).

Judge Edgardo L. Catilo of RTC Branch 23 granted Monday the TRO sought by the MIWD board composed of Celso Javelosa, Sergio Gonzalez, Danilo Encarnacion, Adrian Moncada and Bernadette Castellano.

Corporate secretary and lawyer Hans Sayno said the TRO is part of the quo warranto case they filed against the interim board composed of Emmanuel Malicdem, Hermilo Balucan, Romeo Gerochi, Jessica Salas and Enrique Gita and MIWD general manager Le Jayme Jalbuena.

The quo warranto case questioned LWUA’s ousting of the MIWD board headed by Javelosa and sought a writ of preliminary injunction against their ouster and assumption of the interim board.

In his order dated November 22. Judge Catilo ordered the respondents, except Jalbuena, “to cease and desist from exercising the duties and functions of (the) Board of Directors of MIWD for a period of 20 days from date hereof and/or until ordered by the Court.”

Judge Catilo said the MIWD directors “are entitled to the relief” as their continued ouster from MIWD during the litigation would probably work injustice to them.

The RTC also noted that “the petitioners have in their favor appointments duly issued by the competent appointing authority and have accordingly discharged the functions as members of the board of MIWD for quite a long time already with no less than the LWUA itself confirming and recognizing their appointments.”

Judge Catilo also said that the legality of the appointment of the interim board installed by LWUA is “still in question” since there is no provision under Presidential Decree 198 authorizing LWUA to install such interim board.

The RTC said LWUA’s power to appoint an interim board is limited only to the situation when a water district owes LWUA money.

The Javelosa-led board was ousted after LWUA nullified their appointments made by the Iloilo City mayor.

LWUA based its actions on the provisions of PD 198 which authorizes the city mayor to appoint MIWD directors if 75% of active service connections in the city. Otherwise, the appointing authority would be the provincial governor.

Citing a Supreme Court case (LWUA, et. al. vs Gordon), Judge Catilo said the MIWD board are also classified as government employees and are subject to Civil Service laws “so that petitioners cannot just be summarily ousted or removed from office by LWUA.”

Javelosa said they will review the decisions of the interim board during their board meeting.

Javelosa said they are willing to retain “beneficial” decisions of their erstwhile replacements although they are concerned with the water drilling project in Oton and San Miguel.

“It will cost the water district P6-8 million but there is no assurance that we will be getting quality water because of the possible salt water intrusion as reported by environment officials,” he said.

MIWD is notorious for delivering water on intermittent basis to only 20 percent of its total concessionaires.

ANOTHER TAXI DRIVER KILLED

2010-11-23T23:56:00.000+08:00

Number of robberies this year now 14
By Francis Allan L. Angelo

A MEMBER of a teenage gang was arrested Tuesday morning for the killing of a taxi driver Tuesday early morning in Arevalo, Iloilo City.

Insp. Manny Manuel, Arevalo police chief, said they arrested Toto (not his real name) a minor believed to be a member of the TBS-13 gang.

Toto is one of the three suspects in the death of Welter Ermita, 29, Magsaysay, City Proper, a driver of Kaoli Khan taxi unit with registration plate FWC-361.

Ermita’s case brought to 14 the number of taxi robberies recorded by the police this year. He was the fourth taxi driver to die in the hands of robbers also this year.

Ermita was found dead inside his taxi inside Villa Carolina on Yulo Drive Arevalo around 4am Tuesday.

Initial investigation by scene of the crime operatives said Ermita succumbed to 16 stab wounds in his chest, face and arms.

Investigators led by C/Insp. Hilarion Roga said they recovered scissor blades fashioned as knives in the crime scene.

Manuel said they arrested Toto at Landheights Subdivision in Arevalo after witnesses spotted him and two others running away from the crime scene between 1:30am-2am Tuesday.

A pouch containing personal items and documents of Ermita was also recovered near Toto’s house when police arrested him.

Manuel said Toto is believed to be a regular member of the TBS-13 gang while his companions are neophytes undergoing final initiation rites of the gang tagged to robberies and killings of cabbies.

“The suspect admitted to the crime saying it was part of the neophytes’ final rites before they can formally join the TBS gang,” he added.

Manuel said they have identified the two other suspects who remain at-large while Toto was turned over the Women and Children’s Protection Section of the Iloilo City Police Office.

The TBS-13 gang was exposed after one of their leaders was arrested in a buy-bust operation last month.

The gang is believed to be behind the series of taxi robberies aside from allegedly wallowing in drugs and other crimes.

Gorriceta admits writing letter maligning Tupas

2010-11-23T23:54:00.000+08:00

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

NO big deal.

This was the justification of Mayor Arcadio H. Gorriceta of Pavia, Iloilo on the letter which he sent to the sister of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as regards the Tupas family and the appointment of the regional presidential assistant.

Gorriceta initially played coy when asked about the letter but yesterday admitted that he wrote and sent the letter to Ballsy Aquino-Cruz which included a clipping of The Daily Guardian’s opinion page published July 21, 2010.

The opinion page featured a letter to the editor which thumbed down the appointment of Tupas family members to the Aquino administration for alleged involvement in graft and corruption.

Gorriceta acknowledged the letter as his own after reading TDG’s report on the correspondence published Monday, November 22. He also owned up to the letter after it was read to him by Bombo anchorman Don Dolido Tuesday morning.

But Gorriceta said he merely cited in the letter negative media reports on the Tupases.

The mayor said the letter was triggered by an earlier conversation with Ms. Aquino-Cruz who asked for his assessment of the Tupas family.

“I told her that there are negative media reports on the Tupases. When I read the article in the newspaper on the Tupas family, I sent a copy to her (Aquino-Cruz) for their own review. I just cited the article to her to validate our previous conversation,” Gorriceta said.

Gorriceta said he did not malign former governor Niel Tupas Sr., his party mate in the ruling Liberal Party, as he only supported his statement on the negative media reports against Tupas.

“I had no intention to hurt or malign anyone. Ballsy (Aquino-Cruz) asked me about the Tupases and it was my obligation to answer her. The letter only highlighted media reports on the former governor. There is nothing personal in this issue,” he said.

Gorriceta said he sent the letter to Aquino-Cruz but he did not bother to follow it up, especially that President Aquino announced that he will not appoint regional presidential assistants.

The Gorriceta letter also endorsed Teresa Chan, sister of balladeer Jose Mari and businessman Steven Chan, as presidential assistant for Western Visayas.

Gorriceta said Chan was not initially interested in the post until she learned of the endorsement for her appointment.

Letter discredits Tupas before Aquinos

2010-11-23T23:50:00.000+08:00

By Francis Allan L. Angelo
MAYOR Arcadio Gorriceta of Pavia, Iloilo declined to comment on the letter which put down one of their own within the Liberal Party (LP) as regards the appointments of key officials in President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s administration.

The letter addressed to presidential sister Ballsy Aquino-Cruz and being alluded to Gorriceta as author surfaced in the media Monday.

The letter’s opening paragraph presented a clipping of The Daily Guardian’s opinion page last July 21, 2010 which featured the Letter to the Editor of a certain Romeo Cabaluna of San Miguel, Iloilo.

(Cabaluna’s letter discussed the alleged graft committed during the administration of former governor Niel D. Tupas Sr., particularly transactions disallowed by the Commission on Audit. Cabaluna sent the letter following reports that Tupas and members of his family were to be appointed to the Aquino cabinet next year.)

“Enclosed is a clipping of yesterday’s (July 21, 2010) issue of the “The Guardian” (sic) a local newspaper circulating in Western Visayas and widely read in the city and province of Iloilo. My observation was validated by this latest opinion regarding the image of the Tupases,” the letter said.

The letter’s second paragraph endorsed a certain Teresa Chan for the position of Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas.

Chan is the sister of Ilonggo balladeer Jose Mari Chan and businessman Steven Chan.

“I believe Ms. Chan should be considered for the position because of her integrity and sincerity. Her family’s name is untainted thus, consistent with President Noynoy Aquino’s anti-corruption campaign,” it said.

The third paragraph of the letter also extolled Ms. Chan’s backgrounds which could be an asset when she is appointed presidential assistant.

“The campaign slogan of President Aquino is a battle-cry for all Filipinos to fight graft and corruption. I share the idea of honest and transparent governance. However, to make this happen it is necessary that he appoint persons with sterling character,” the letter added.

In a phone interview, Gorriceta said he has not seen the letter bearing his name. Gorriceta said he cannot comment on the letter because it does not bear his signature.

But Gorriceta admitted he indeed advised Ms. Aquino before that President Aquino’s appointees should be based on their campaign slogan “Kung walang kurap, walang mahirap (There’s no poverty if there’s no corruption).”

“That’s all I said to them that they must choose people who fit the campaign slogan in the last election. As regards that letter, I cannot comment because it does not have my signature,” he added.

Gorriceta and Tupas are members of the ruling Liberal Party. Gorriceta took his oath as LP member before Senator Franklin M. Drilon.

TF Bakhaw to cover Odicta drug haven

2010-11-23T23:44:00.000+08:00

By Tara Yap

MALIPAYON-DELGADO is next on the list of the region’s top cop who makes a high profile pitch on wiping out the illegal drug trade in Iloilo City.

C/Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr. has directed the newly resurrected Task Force Bakhaw to also cover Malipayon-Delgado believed to be controlled by the Odicta drug group in the City Proper.

TF Bakhaw was originally reestablished to monitor the illegal drug activities in Mandurriao district, which is believed to be under the control of the Prevendido group, the other notorious illegal drug syndicate in the city.

Supt. Eugenio Espejo, acting city police director, disclosed that there is no definite timeframe when TF Bakhaw will formally operate in Malipayon-Delgado area.

However, Espejo stressed that Bakhaw is still the priority given its larger area where the rate of buying and selling of illegal drugs is more widespread.

“In Malipayon-Delgado, there are only two entry and exit points while in Bakhaw there are seven,” Espejo said.

Also, Espejo pointed out that TF Bakhaw in Bakhaw village still needs additional personnel and it does not have the capacity to deploy a team in Malipayon-Delgado area as of the moment.

Espejo also noted that the police will have to properly coordinate with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-6) who has better knowledge of the ins and outs of the illegal drug trade in both Bakhaw and Malipayon-Delgado areas.

COA audit reports may deliver Tupas to perdition

2010-11-23T23:40:00.000+08:00

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

A SERIES of memoranda from the Commission on Audit (COA) gave flesh to reports that the Philippine Truth Commission of 2010 is probing alleged anomalous deals during the Tupas administration.

The investigation was triggered by Resolution No. 008-2010 promulgated by the Truth Commission on September 20, 2010.

The resolution requested COA to provide the probe body with “information on cases of disallowances of expenditures on grounds that the same were irregular, unnecessary, excessive and extravagant or unconscionable.”

The commission then sent a letter request signed former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr., commission chairman, to COA chair Reynaldo Villar.

Villar then issued a memorandum dated October 22, 2010 to COA-6 Regional Director Salvador Isiderio.

Isiderio then forwarded the communication on November 2, 2010 to the COA team assigned at the Iloilo provincial government and headed by state auditor Nilo Castigador.

On November 9, the COA at the capitol submitted to the COA regional office a list of 14 transactions amounting to P220.2 million which are considered “irregular, unnecessary, excessive and extravagant or unconscionable.”

The provincial government headed by Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. said the series of communications from the Truth commission and COA prove that they are not behind efforts to nail down Tupas for graft and corruption.

Defensor had said he is willing to release all documents pertinent to the alleged anomalous deals even as he expressed the possibility of filing charges against his predecessor.

The COA list of “anomalous” transactions included the P22.9-million bonuses to day care workers and barangay service point officers in 2008 and the P20.8-million 14th month pay in 2004.

It also listed the anomalous procurement of the P1.15-million autoclave sterilizing machine for the Iloilo Provincial Hospital, and the alleged anomalies in the P643,582 worth of catering services in the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center.

Even the load transfer or pasaload amounting to P8,698.05 from the mobile phone of Governor Tupas to other mobile phones was also included in the list submitted to the Truth commission.

The Tupas camp said the Defensor administration should not single out the former governor in the alleged anomalies at the capitol.

Former provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada said there are other officials who approved the alleged anomalous deals such as former vice governor Rolex Suplico and members of the previous provincial board.

Mejorada said while former board member now Rep. Arthur R. Defensor Jr. abstained in the approval of the 2009 bonuses, “he approved the allowances of health workers.”

“If they want to file cases against (former) Governor Tupas, they should do it. They have been saying in the last five months that they will file cases but nothing happened,” he added.

‘Fortress of illegal drugs’

2010-11-23T23:37:00.000+08:00

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

WESTERN Visayas’ top cop could only shake his head when he saw the reportedly notorious hub of illegal drug operations at Brgy. Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

C/Supt. Cipriano E. Querol Jr., Police Regional Office (PRO-6) director, went to Bakhaw Sunday morning to check on the installation of Task Force Bakhaw deployed to curb the illegal drug problem in the village.

Querol also led a dialogue with officials and residents of Bakhaw to explain the presence of the task force and to solicit their support.

While waiting for the residents to arrive at the village’s basketball court, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director Paul Ledesma “toured” Querol to the home of a suspected drug lord in Bakhaw, Richard Prevendido.

The area was surrounded by bamboo fences 6-7 feet tall and can only be accessed by narrow alleyways more or less 1 meter wide.

Querol also noticed a “mansion” in the middle of shanties, believed to be the house of Prevendido. The mansion sits beside a creek and enclosed by bamboo fences.

In one of the gates, Ledesma pointed to a slot where illegal drugs and money allegedly changing hands.

No one answered when Ledesma tried to call the residents of the mansion and the shanties.

“Based on the structures we have seen, they have built a fortress of drug dens. It’s like a camp of drug lairs or drug dens. The fences are very high and it’s really hard to penetrate the area unless we will get the support of the community,” Querol said.

LUKEWARM AND AFRAID

Querol also sensed fear among the residents of Bakhaw when he visited the area.

“They are cordial but lukewarm. There is not much support. I sense there is fear in them. They are hiding something because of that fear,” he said.

That fear may have been manifested by the residents’ lackadaisical attitude to the dialogue held at the barangay’s covered gym.

The dialogue between the PNP, PDEA and Bakhaw folks was supposed to start around 8am but it was not until 9am that a handful of people were seated in the gym after some prodding by barangay officials.

Only two women also stood up during the dialogue to express support for the police and PDEA in curbing illegal drugs in the village.

Querol explained to the residents that their purpose is to erase the impression that Bakhaw is the illegal drugs haven of Iloilo City.

“Bakhaw has a problem but let us give the village a chance to be peaceful and progressive. Everything starts in the barangay and we hope that you will trust and help the police so we can deliver the services you need,” he said.

Cops deployed in 7 entry, exit points

2010-11-23T23:34:00.001+08:00

By Tara Yap

THE PNP’s Task Force Bakhaw is keeping vigil in key entrance and exit points of Brgy. Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City after it was reactivated over the weekend.

C/Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr., reactivated the task force in Brgy. Bakhaw in the wake of reports that it is now under the control of the Prevendido drug group.

Headed by Supt. Leo Batiles, TF Bakhaw’s main purpose is to curb the buying and selling of illegal drugs in the area.

“Kon wala ang pusher may ibaligya, ang adik indi maka bakal (Addicts can’t buy if the pushers can’t sell),” Batiles said.

Batiles explained this is meant to reduce supply and demand as both buyers and sellers will now find it harder to freely move with the presence of law enforcers in and around the village.

TF Bakhaw has started conducting checkpoints in the seven entry and exit points of Bakhaw monitoring who goes in and out, especially prospective buyers.

Querol, in a dialogue with village officials and residents Sunday, urged the community to cooperate in combating the proliferation of illegal drugs.

Outgoing village chief Ruby Gallano assured law enforcers that she will continue to support the anti-illegal drugs campaign even if a Prevendido—Remia Prevendido-Gregori—is set to succeed her as barangay captain by the end of the month.

“It is my duty and I will urge others to cooperate because this is the only place we call home,” Gallano said.

TF Bakha will closely coordinate with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-6), which had several successful anti-drug operations in the last year-and-half.

“This only strengthens the partnership between PDEA and the police force in our mandates of wiping out the illegal drug trade in Iloilo,” said PDEA-6 regional director Paul Ledesma.

But Ledesma noted that it is too early to tell how effective TF Bakhaw is. “They are still feeling their way around. Let’s give them time to know the ins and outs of Bakhaw.”

“Eventually, their presence will be felt,” he added.

Meanwhile, some residents complained about the presence of too many cops carrying M16 rifles in the village.

Why Peco gets conservative with new power supply contract

2010-11-23T22:48:00.000+08:00

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

RABID opposition by parties riling against additional power sources in Panay may have forced Panay Electric Co. (Peco) to be conservative in contracting power from the coal-fired power plant of Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC).

Gil Altamira, GBPC commercial operations manager, said Peco’s contract to purchase 65 megawatts from the coal-fired power plant of GBPC is indeed conservative.

GBPC’s subsidiary Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC) will operate the new power plant in LaPaz, Iloilo City.

Aside from buying 65MW from PEDC for its baseload requirement, Peco will reduce its 72-MW contract with Panay Power Corp. (another GBPC subsidiary operating a diesel-fired power plant also in LaPaz) to only 15MW for its peak demand.

In sum, Peco will contract 80MW from PEDC-PPC plants. The contract is still pending with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) which recently wrapped up its hearings on the new deal.

Observers said the contract might not be enough what with the new business establishments sprouting in Iloilo City and the explosion of suppressed demands with the looming full commercial operation of the coal plant next year.

As of May 2010, Peco’s peak load reached 78-80MW at the height of the summer season.

Altamira said that while Peco’s contract with PEDC-PPC will be enough for its present demands, it is still conservative when future demands are considered.

“At present, the contract will address Peco’s capacity problems. But in the next year or coming years, it will not suffice and we are looking at another round of power deficit by next year,” Altamira said.

Altamira said staunch opposition by anti-coal advocates obviously forced Peco to be cautious in its contract with PEDC.

“I don’t know why our friends from anti-coal groups are doing this but one need not be an engineer or economist to see that 80MW will not be enough for next year and the succeeding years,” he added.

The GBPC executive said Peco might exceed the 80MW peak load in summer of next year as new establishments and businesses consume the new capacity from the coal-fired power plant.

“Unless Peco contracts more power from available sources, we are looking at another round of power shortage by next year (in the city),” Altamira said.

Randy Pastolero, Peco vice president for operations, said aside from their contract with PEDC, they will also enter into a 10-MW “firm contract” with Lopez-owned Green Core Geothermal Inc. next year to augment its power requirements.

At present, Peco has a “non-firm” contract with Green Core but it hardly uses the power since it is available only during non-peak periods, usually late in the evening to early morning of the following day.

Iloilo City’s peak period falls between 10am to 7pm when most commercial establishments, particularly malls, are already open.

REDUCED RATES

Altamira said electricity rates will be reduced once Peco sources its requirement from PEDC by at least P1.84 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Altamira said Peco’s rate reduction is also conservative “maybe because they don’t want to make people expect too much at this time, but if the reduction goes up to P2, it will be good for Peco and the consumers.”

Altamira said GBPC’s decision to reduce Peco’s contract with the diesel-fired power plant is a “sacrifice” as the plant is still paying loans it contracted in its inception.

“We are trying to market the remaining capacity of the diesel-plant to interested utilities and to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines for its ancillary services such as the reserves,” he added.

Since PEDC is embedded in Peco’s system, consumers will no longer pay for transmission cost which is presently pegged at P1.20 to P1.40 per kWh.

“If we sell P5 per kWh to Peco, it will become P6 to P6.50 per kWh because of transmission cost. Naturally, Peco consumers will enjoy a bigger price difference from those in the cooperatives,” Altamira said.

TESTING RATES

Since the coal-fired power plant began its load testing phase, it has been supplying electricity to Peco, easing brownouts except when the plant shuts down for minor adjustments.

Speculations are rife that Peco consumers might be made to pay for electricity supplied by the PEDC plant when it has yet to secure provisional authority from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

Altamira said PEDC’s contract with Peco has provisions on electricity supplied during the testing and commissioning stage which is sanctioned by the ERC.

Power plants undergoing load testing are allowed to supply power to utilities not only to try the plant’s reliability and compatibility with the grid but also to fill in power shortage.

Altamira said the electricity consumed by Peco during the load testing period can be recovered “but we cannot bill Peco yet until we have the go signal from ERC.”

Even if consumers pay for power used during the load testing period, Altamira said the price is discounted.

“Power produced during load testing and commissioning is very cheap (compared to the power generated by our existing diesel plant),” he said.

P220-MILLION BROUHAHA

2010-11-23T22:39:00.001+08:00

Defensor may charge Tupas

By Tara Yap

THERE is a possibility that Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. will file an administrative or criminal case against his predecessor, former Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. over the latter’s P220-million disallowances.

“If there is sufficient evidence, I will endorse this to the Ombudsman for appropriate charges,” Defensor said on the findings of the Commission on Audit (COA-6) that the Tupas administration incurred extravagant expenditures.

COA-6 was reportedly asked by the Truth Commission, headed by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, to submit a summary of disallowances incurred during the three terms of Tupas.

Topping the list were the P20-million 14th month pay in 2004; the P22-million operative budget for provincial health workers in 2008; and the P71-million extra cash gift in 2008.

Also included in the list of disallowances were:

• P1.1 million procurement of autoclave

• P643,582 purchase order of catering at the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center, which was increased to P50/pax from P40/pax

• P280,000 year-end benefits of the Special Education Fund

• P181,450.75 honorarium of BAC secretariat and technical working group

• P122,832 procurement of agricultural supplies that weren’t all delivered

• P83,000 procurement of Acer laptops

• P33,000 procurement of digital cameras and other appliances

• P15,000 excessive traveling expenses

• P8,698 on pasaload transfer of Gov. Tupas to other cellphones

Defensor stressed that the Tupas administration could still held criminally liable regardless the disallowances will be paid back.

For example, capitol employees appealed to Defensor that they be allowed to pay back the illegal bonus within a five-year period through salary deduction.

While Defensor claims he does not formally know of the investigation of the Truth Commission on the alleged irregularities by his predecessor, he welcomed it.

“This is a pleasant surprise. We are looking after the truth,” Defensor noted.

“Someone will be held accountable for these anomalies,” Defensor added.

Defensor assured that he will facilitate any documents needed by the Commission during its investigation.

Guv urges revisit of MIWD’s coexistence

2010-11-23T22:36:00.000+08:00

By Tara Yap

ILOILO Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. is urging all stakeholders to revisit the co-existence of Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) in both the city and province of Iloilo.

“It is not fair that the province is out of the picture,” Defensor expressed.

This is amidst the ongoing conflict at the MIWD wherein an interim board of directors was installed earlier this week through the intervention of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).

Defensor clarified he will not comment unless the court decides on whether he or Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has the legal authority to appoint MIWD board based on Presidential Decree 198.

Instead, the governor stressed that MIWD, LWUA and the city government must not exclude the province at all.

“MIWD is part of the province,” Defensor said.

Defensor explained the non-inclusion of the province is unjust in terms of policy-making since the MIWD obtains majority of its water from the Tigum River in Maasin town, which is almost 30 km from the city. MIWD also sources out water from pumping stations in the towns of Pavia, San Miguel and Oton.

“What if Maasin won’t supply MIWD with water? What can it do? The city won’t have any water,” Defensor pointed out.

Defensor also cautioned that it is not only city residents who are affected but also consumers in towns of Pavia, Cabatuan, Maasin, San Miguel, and Oton

Defensor urged the MIWD management, MIWD interim board of directors, the old MIWD board, the city government, the provincial government, and LWUA to have a dialogue.

“I’m not expecting the management, the board, the city, and LWUA to decide on this now… (but) this needs to be addressed,” Defensor said.

Irene dares Bobby to be his own man

2010-11-23T22:28:00.000+08:00

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

THE incumbent president of the Liga ng mga Barangay-Iloilo City challenged her rival to be his own man instead of seeking refuge behind his political patron.

“Be a man. Do not hide behind the skirt of Cong. Jerry Treñas,” said Punong Barangay and Liga president Irene Ong to Punong Barangay Roberto Divinagracia of San Agustin, City Proper.

Ong dished out the challenge a day after Divinagracia claimed that 142 village heads in the city signed a manifesto of support for his Liga presidency bid.

The diminutive but feisty Liga president said word of honor, not signatures, matters in the upcoming election.

Ong was supported by then Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez when she first ran for Liga presidency three years ago.

“As for myself, I am relying on the goodwill we have established among Baragay officials and the achievements of the Liga during my term. I do not need signatures but I am relying on the punong barangays who have not just given me their word of honor but are also actively campaigning for me,” Ong added.

Ong also chided her opponent for insisting that the Liga election is a “Treñas vs. Gonzalez” proxy war.

“That is another propaganda line which is inappropriate for a simple election of Liga officers. They should respect the Liga as a neutral institution that serves the needs of all Punong Barangays regardless of political persuasion or affiliation.”

Ong hoped that like Mayor Jed Mabilog, Treñas will stay away from the Liga polls. “Treñas has nothing to gain from this exercise,” Ong added.

Punong barangays reached by The Daily Guardian laughed about the presence of their signature in the so-called pledge document.

“Abi namon attendance sheet (We thought it was attendance sheet),” said a punong barangay who sought anonymity to speak freely on the issue.

Other punong barangays said they signed the pledge document out of “pakisama (peer pressure).”

Ong said she does not want to reveal the number of punong barangays supporting her to prevent her rival from pressuring her supporters.

“If the other camp claims they have 142 and I will also claim that I have 150 punong barangays, people might be confused because we will end up with 292 barangay captains in the city when we only have 180,” Ong said.

Ong expressed confidence that village chiefs of the city “will not succumb to pressure but will vote as independent and intelligent public officials” come Liga election day on December 7.

POWER FOR ILOILO CITY

2010-11-23T22:24:00.000+08:00

Coal plant still on load test but now mitigating outages

By Tara Yap

LONG power outages may now be mitigated as the region’s first-coal fired power plant is currently generating 50% of its capacity after successfully synchronizing its system to the grid and Panay Electric Company, Iloilo City’s lone power distributor.

Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC), which operates the 164-MW coal plant composed of two units, disclosed yesterday that its first unit was already generating 42-megawatts.

Engr. Henry Alcalde, PEDC vice president for operations, said this will give PECO additional power supply for its consumers without having to resort to rotational blackouts.

The city has been reeling from three to six hours of rotating brownouts due to capacity deficiency over the past three months.

PECO’s Engr. Randy Pastolero said the latest development will ease the power problem.

“There has been no blackout since 3pm of Wednesday (when the plant started going on-stream),” Pastolero said.

Pastolero emphasized that as long as PEDC supplies enough power, PECO will continuously distribute it to city consumers without interruptions.

Meanwhile, Alcalde clarified that the coal plant is still on testing and commissioning stage.

“Our monitoring stage continues and we may be disconnected from the PECO grid at times,” Alcalde disclosed.

He explained that the 42-megawatts was only a trail delivery, assuring that it is only when the plant is fully operational next month or in January, next year that PEDC can give steady and adequate power supply to PECO.

Load Rejection test

The purpose of the load rejection test is to evaluate the plant’s compatibility in transmitting to the grid while fixing technical errors that may pop up.

Alcalde explained that during the initial 25% load rejection test, diesel fuel was used and then it was switched to coal fuel during the 50% load rejection test yesterday morning.

Alcalde expects the test will reach the 100% mark early next week.

The test also checks the compatibility of the coal plant to connect with the Visayas power grid including Cebu and Negros.

Jalaur project funding in nat’l budget

2010-11-23T22:18:00.000+08:00

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

PART of the P17.5-billion “private public partnership” (PPP) fund can be used in the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project (JRMPP) of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

Senator Franklin Drilon, Senate finance committee chairman, said the PPP fund can be used for several purposes in the implementation of the project.

The P17.5-billion funding is included in the P1-trillion national budget which is still pending in Congress.

Drilon said the fund can be used for project/feasibility studies, right-of-way allocations and local counterpart funding.

The Ilonggo senator pledged to help the national and local governments to fund PPP projects, a thrust of the Aquino administration.

Drilon said they will work double time to pass the national budget in the Senate so that President Benigno Aquino III can sign a new budget before the year ends.

The P15.22-billion Jalaur River project is programmed to be completed in nine years. It aims to address the irrigation needs of farmers in the province and solve the water problem of the city and province of Iloilo.

It is also expected to produce 11.5 megawatts of hydro power which could also augment local power needs.

Currently, NIA irrigation systems serve 22,000 hectares of farmlands in Iloilo Province and if the project is realized an additional of 12,000 hectares would be served.

It could also address the water supply problem of Iloilo City as it could provide the Metro Iloilo Water District with 86,400 cubic meters of water daily.

Jalaur River is the second largest river in Panay and 17th largest river system in the country in terms of size in drainage basin. Its estimated drainage area is 1,503 square kilometers and travels 123 kilometers from its source to its mouth in the Guimaras strait.

The river drains the eastern portion of Panay and traverses through Passi City, Leganes, Zarraga, Dumangas, Barotac Nuevo, Pototan, Dingle, Duenas and Calinog.

City may de-annex from MIWD – Jed

2010-11-23T22:12:00.000+08:00

By Lydia C. Pendon

MAYOR Jed Patrick Mabilog has directed the City Legal Office to study all possible angles and bring to court all those who instigated the take over of the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) and the ouster of the old board of directors.

“I am not keen on having the appointing authority over the water district board as this an added workload for me. Several persons have already approached me to be appointed to the board and I do not want to be in the middle of another controversy,” Mabilog told city hall beat reporters.

However, the recent developments at the MIWD showed a blatant disrespect and courtesy to the city mayor through a sneak takeover of the MIWD board by the management-endorsed directors. “The management will do everything to advance their own personal interests such as selling bulk water in the city,” the city mayor said.

Mabilog said the city has all the right to close its doors to MIWD as a worst case scenario and may ask the water district to vacate its offices and transfer outside the city. The city government may find other water resources and there are many offerors which can supply water to city constituents.

The water district may not be allowed to conduct diggings in the city and its water tankers may not be allowed to enter the city and deliver water, the city mayor said.

On the other hand, Ilonggo Senator Franklin M. Drilon said he is wiling to help mediate and settle the controversy between the MIWD board of directors and the management. He said he will be inviting the board and management to his office for a conference and see what he can do to help.

‘DON’T STOP COAL PLANT’

2010-11-23T22:05:00.001+08:00

Drilon: New capacity key to solving acute power shortage

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

AN Ilonggo senator quelled calls to shut down the coal-fired power plant in LaPaz, Iloilo City despite the foul odor being blamed on the facility.

Speaking before business and government leaders, Senator Franklin M. Drilon said the power plant of Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC) is the key in solving the acute power crisis in Iloilo City and the rest of Panay.

Drilon was one of the keynote speakers of the 1st Western Visayas Business Forum mounted by the University of Iloilo-Phinma in tandem with the Iloilo Business Club and Iloilo Economic Development Council at Hotel del Rio.

"Please, let's not stop it. We should work on stopping the causes of foul odors and other environmental issues being complained about, but the project must go on," Drilon said.

Drilon said GBPC and its subsidiary Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC), which will operate the plant, are capable of solving the odor problem.

The senator said he is aware of the power crisis in the city through information relayed to him by Ilonggos.

Drilon said power and water shortages are the main stumbling blocks to Iloilo’s rise to economic prominence.

Drilon said the prospects are good in the BPO industry for the country, which now ranks second to India in the world in call centers.

With its seven universities and dozens of colleges, Iloilo City has a distinct advantage in terms of good English-speaking graduates, Drilon said.

The only handicap for Iloilo City is power – the expensive rates and unstable supply, he said.

Both issues, he said, can be resolved with the start of the coal-plant project.

Consumers can expect a reduction of at least P1.85 per kilowatt hour and the supply will be adequate for the medium term, he said.

Drilon said another company, A. Brown and Co., will also be breaking ground for a 200-megawatt coal plant in Concepcion, Iloilo before the end of the year. This plant is projected to begin operations by 2013, thereby assuring Iloilo of a stable supply in the long term.

As regards the turmoil besetting Metro Iloilo Water District, Drilon said he is aware of the recent developments particularly the ouster of the board of directors through the instigation of the management team and Local Water Utilities Administration.

Drilon said he welcomes legal actions that may arise in order to settle the issue.

Synchronization

Brownouts ceased around 4pm Thursday after the coal-fired power plant was synchronized with the grid and Panay Electric Co. (PECO), the sole power distributor in Iloilo City.

The synchronization is part of the testing and commissioning tests en route to the plant’s full commercial operations early next year.

PECO operations manager Randy Pastolero said the power plant infused around 12 megawatts in their system, easing outages around the city.

“So far, so good. No more outages,” Pastolero said.

GBPC assistant vice president Adrian Moncada said the plant is running on 25% capacity and confirmed it supplies 12MW to the PECO.

Moncada said they will gradually increase the load as they test the coal-feeding system so that the plant can run on coal fuel instead of diesel.