NGCP files case vs Sambitory clan

MANILA, Philippines - The National Grid Corp. of Philippines (NGCP) has sought legal recourse against the Sambitory clan for refusal to restore a critical power line in Mindanao, causing a power supply strain in the region.

In a statement yesterday, the grid operator said it filed a civil case with the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Marawi City last Feb. 2, requesting for the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction and/or temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Sambitory family.

The landowners refused the grid operator entry to their property to repair Tower #25 of Agus 2-Kibawe 138-kV line.

Tower #25 was bombed on Dec. 24, 2015, rendering the Agus 2-Kibawe 138-kV line, which connects the Agus 1 and Agus 2 hydropower plants to the grid, non-operational.

In the complaint, NGCP pleaded for the issuance of writ of preliminary injunction and/or TRO to “compel the defendants (Sambitory family) to cease from committing acts that prevent plaintiff NGCP from entering the property.”

The grid operator stressed it cannot perform its mandate to maintain, rehabilitate, repair and refurbish the damaged transmission facilities if the family continues to refuse them access, stating that this “will result to the shortage of power supply in the island of Mindanao and the disruption of public service due to massive blackouts and power interruptions.”

NGCP said it has been in talks with the family, together with Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong, National Power Corp. and the National Transmission Corp., to access the tower site and finally repair the bombed structure.

However, the family seeks a P40-million payment, which is to be settled by TransCo, the government entity which owns the transmission assets.