Six residents of Barangay Mariki are set to face charges for alleged violation of Republic Act No. 7832, or the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994, following a large-scale anti-electricity pilferage operation conducted by the Energy Recovery Team (ERT) of Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative, Inc. in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police 5th Special Action Battalion, and Civilian Armed Auxiliary (CAA) contingency forces.
Authorities are also pursuing a police officer allegedly identified as the mastermind behind the illegal electricity operation after residents reportedly pointed to him as the person collecting monthly payments from households connected to the unauthorized power lines.
According to ZAMCELCO, the alleged suspect, described as a uniformed personnel, was reportedly collecting around ₱1,000 monthly from each customer availing of the illegal electricity connections. However, the suspect was no longer in the area when authorities conducted the operation in Barangay Mariki.
Investigators discovered a privately owned 37.5 KVA distribution transformer with a registered account and electric meter. Despite the legal registration, authorities found another conductor directly connected to the secondary bushing of the transformer, effectively bypassing the electric meter.
Authorities said the illegal setup was allegedly being used to distribute electricity to multiple households through overhead wiring and electrical lines installed beneath a wooden and concrete footbridge in the community.
Further inspection revealed that electrical cables were concealed inside water hoses used as improvised protective coverings, raising serious safety concerns.
During the operation, authorities conducted tracing and tagging activities on households suspected of having illegal electrical hookups. Around 33 to nearly 40 houses were reportedly connected to the unauthorized network, although only 15 households were formally documented after several houses were found abandoned or unoccupied during inspection.
Residents allegedly admitted paying monthly fees ranging from ₱500 to ₱3,000 in exchange for electricity access through the illegal connections.
Floyd Eric O. Bautista, acting general manager of ZAMCELCO, warned that illegal electrical installations pose major risks to public safety, including fire, electrocution, and possible fatalities, especially during high tide when seawater may come into contact with energized lines.
Following the discovery, authorities dismantled and removed the privately owned transformer along with assorted electrical wires and other materials allegedly used in the illegal distribution system.
ZAMCELCO emphasized that electricity pilferage significantly contributes to non-technical system losses, which directly affect the reliability and efficiency of power distribution services.
Authorities explained that losses caused by illegal electrical connections are eventually reflected in the “system loss” charges shouldered by regular and law-abiding consumers.
Monitoring data released by ZAMCELCO showed that system loss levels gradually declined this year, recording 20.33 percent in January, 16.31 percent in February, 15.86 percent in March, and 15.32 percent in April, resulting in an average system loss of 16.92 percent.
Officials said the figures indicate improvements in system efficiency while highlighting the continuing challenge posed by electricity theft and other non-technical losses.
Rommel S. Agan said the cooperative would continue conducting similar anti-pilferage operations to protect the integrity of its distribution network and further reduce system losses.
He also thanked law enforcement agencies for supporting the campaign against electricity pilferage in Zamboanga City.
The six suspects are currently detained at the detention facility of the National Bureau of Investigation – Regional Office IX and have undergone inquest proceedings before the Office of the City Prosecutor, while authorities continue the manhunt for the alleged mastermind behind the operation.