Electric coop cuts power in Kidapawan courts due to unpaid bills

The Hall of Justice in Kidapawan City owes some P300,000 to a local power firm. (Photo by WILLIAMOR A. MAGBANUA / Inquirer Mindanao)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato, Philippines — The courts in this capital city of Cotabato province began business for 2022 without electricity after the local power firm cut its connection due to unpaid bills

Engineer Godofredo Homez, Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) general manager, said the Hall of Justice in Kidapawan has outstanding debts of more than P300,000, covering six monthly bills.

Homez said that Cotelco wanted to extend services to the agency, but it was constrained to cut the electricity connection to prevent its unpaid bills from mounting further.

“We gave them consideration because of the pandemic. However it is long overdue and we really need the amount so that we can give uninterrupted services to our concessionaires,” Homez said.

The Hall of Justice building hosts two regional trial courts and the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).

A lawyer said that due to the power cut, court hearings were all suspended.

The PAO and the judges plan to ask both the city government and provincial government to momentarily shoulder the bills so that their services can resume soonest.

ATM