Zamboanga Court Convicts Eight in Major Electricity Theft Case
The Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Zamcelco) has secured another significant legal victory in its ongoing battle against electricity theft, with eight individuals convicted for illegal electricity pilferage. This conviction stems from a high-profile entrapment operation conducted in 2025, marking a pivotal moment in the cooperative's enforcement efforts.
Details of the Operation and Legal Proceedings
The case originated from a coordinated operation on March 25, 2025, involving the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), local police, military personnel, and Zamcelco's Energy Recovery Team (ERT). The operation targeted alleged violations of Republic Act No. 7832, the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994, at Purok 7, San Juaniño Village, Barangay Mampang. Following the operation, the case was formally filed on March 26, 2025.
Initially, 11 individuals were apprehended during the entrapment. Three of them opted to settle their differential billing, while the remaining eight proceeded to trial. The legal process culminated in the promulgation of judgment for Criminal Case Nos. 56734 and 56735 on Friday, February 6, 2026. Presided over by Honorable Judge Manuel M. Wee Sit IV, the court convicted all eight accused of pilferage and violation of Section 2 of R.A. 7832.
Strong Message from Zamcelco Leadership
In a statement issued on Monday, February 9, 2026, Lawyer Rommel S. Agan, Zamcelco Chief Management Officer, emphasized the importance of these convictions. "These convictions send a clear and strong message: Zamcelco will not tolerate electricity pilferage," Agan declared. He further added, "Management remains committed to protecting its resources and ensuring that honest member-consumer-owners continue to receive fair and reliable service."
Section 2 of R.A. 7832 explicitly prohibits several illegal activities, including:
- Tapping or making unauthorized connections to overhead lines, service drops, or other electric service wires.
- Tapping or connecting to the existing electric service facilities of any registered consumer without consent.
- Knowingly using or benefiting from electricity obtained through such illegal acts.
Incentives for Reporting and Ongoing Crackdown
Engineer Gannumede Tiu, Zamcelco general manager, announced that the cooperative is offering incentives to encourage public participation in combating electricity theft. Individuals who provide verified reports of electricity pilferage may receive a reward of up to P5,000. "We urge the public to report any theft incidents, as electricity pilferage contributes directly to system losses that affect all member-consumer-owners," Tiu stated.
For 2026, Zamcelco has pledged to continue actively filing cases against electricity pilferage. Recent actions include a case filed against the owner of a large establishment in Suterville for illegally tapping electricity directly from Zamcelco's secondary line. Additionally, a barangay official is facing similar charges and is scheduled for arraignment in the coming days following the issuance of a warrant of arrest.
Call to Action and Future Resolve
Zamcelco remains steadfast in its resolve to eliminate electricity pilferage in Zamboanga City. Agan called on member-consumers to assist in this drive by reporting any pilferage activities. Reports can be made to Zamcelco's hotline numbers: 991-2117, 0917-307-1412, 0917-302-6629, or via email at management@zamcelco.com.ph.
This conviction underscores Zamcelco's unwavering commitment to safeguarding its resources and ensuring equitable service for all consumers, reinforcing the legal consequences for those who engage in electricity theft.
