ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Authorities have uncovered several alleged illegal electricity connections in Barangay Campo Islam, with the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco) estimating that 60 to 70 households may have benefited from unauthorized power lines.
The discovery was made during an anti-pilferage operation on September 2, 2026, as Zamcelco’s Energy Recovery Team conducted inspections with Task Force Zamboanga and coordinated with barangay officials in several areas of Campo Islam.
Illegal Connections Found in Several Areas
The operation covered Love Drive, Guyabano Drive, Harmony Drive and Sampaloc Drive in Barangay Campo Islam.
According to Zamcelco, its team discovered several illegal direct connections. One reported illegal connection was concealed inside a water hose, highlighting the methods allegedly used to bypass the cooperative’s legitimate power system.
The cooperative said the illegal connections contributed to what the power industry calls non-technical losses — electricity losses caused by factors such as theft, illegal connections and meter-related irregularities rather than normal technical problems in the distribution network.
Zamcelco Says Illegal Tapping Is Hurting Paying Consumers
Zamcelco warned that electricity theft does not only affect the cooperative.
The illegal connections were also blamed for placing additional strain on the local power distribution system and damaging transformers, contributing to power interruptions that affected nearby consumers, including households legally paying for electricity.
The discovery underscores a continuing problem for Zamboanga City’s power system, where Zamcelco and government agencies have been conducting intensified operations against unauthorized connections.
In August, Zamcelco also reported finding 70 dormant electricity accounts that had allegedly been illegally reconnected after being disconnected from the cooperative’s official system.
Crackdown on Power Theft Intensifies
The latest Campo Islam operation is part of a broader campaign against electricity pilferage in Zamboanga City.
In February, eight people were convicted in connection with electricity pilferage cases following an earlier anti-pilferage operation.
In July, six Zamboanga City residents were also fined P20,000 each after being found guilty of violating Republic Act No. 7832, or the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994. Zamcelco said violators could also face additional liabilities related to the estimated value of illegally consumed electricity.
The continuing legal cases show that the cooperative’s campaign has moved beyond inspections and disconnections, with authorities increasingly pursuing formal action against individuals found responsible for illegal power use.
Zamcelco Continues Regular Inspections
Following the Campo Islam operation, Zamcelco said its Energy Recovery Team would continue regular monitoring, foot patrols and inspections in areas considered vulnerable to electricity pilferage.
The cooperative said the campaign aims to:
- Detect and remove illegal connections
- Reduce non-technical losses
- Protect transformers and other electrical facilities
- Prevent unauthorized reconnections
- Improve power reliability
- Protect legitimate consumers
Zamcelco has also encouraged the public to report suspected electricity theft and other unauthorized electrical activities. The cooperative’s broader anti-pilferage campaign has included cooperation with the city government, the National Electrification Administration and other agencies.
Legal Connections Offered as an Alternative
While enforcement operations continue, Zamcelco has also expanded programs aimed at helping households obtain legitimate electricity service.
The cooperative reported in May that it had installed 1,212 new electrical connections for indigent households through its ZAMCELConnect One-Stop-Shop program. Zamcelco said expanding access to legal electricity connections could help reduce the number of residents resorting to illegal connections.
That creates a two-track strategy for the cooperative:
Expand access to legal electricity for qualified households — while pursuing illegal power connections and repeat offenders.
A Bigger Challenge for Zamboanga’s Power System
The Campo Islam discovery highlights the wider impact of electricity theft on communities.
Illegal tapping can cause more than financial losses for a power cooperative. Zamcelco says unauthorized connections can overload equipment, damage transformers and contribute to outages that affect entire neighborhoods.
With authorities estimating that dozens of households may have benefited from the alleged illegal connections uncovered during the latest operation, the case is likely to strengthen calls for continued inspections across areas identified as vulnerable to power pilferage.
Zamcelco said legal action would be taken against those found responsible.
For residents who faithfully pay their electricity bills, the message from the latest operation is clear: illegal power connections may begin with a single wire, but the consequences can extend across an entire community.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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