Shots fired at compound of Lanao Sur power co-op

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY , Philippines   â€“ Unidentified men fired shots at the compound of the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative (Lasureco) in Marawi City shortly after midnight Friday, reports said. No one was hurt.

The attack was believed directed at Lasureco general manager Ashary Maongco, who reportedly got the ire of some local officials for ordering the disconnection of 35 towns in Lanao del Sur for failing to pay their power bills.

Last May 13, the mounted crane of the Bicol-based Jera General Construction firm that was rehabilitating Lasureco’s 69 kilovolt (KV) and 13.2 KV lines along the highway in Ditsaan-Ramain town was torched.

Maongco has reportedly filed an arson case against Mayor Ali Adiong of Ditsaan-Ramain town before the provincial prosecutor’s office in connection with the incident.

Maongo has also filed an administrative case against Adiong for grave misconduct and oppression with the Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao.

In an affidavit submitted to the Court of Appeals in Cagayan de Oro City last May 19, Maongco accused Adiong, his driver and 10 still unidentified men of allegedly burning the mounted crane. Maongco has secured the affidavits of six witnesses.

Maongco suspected that the attack on the Lasureco compound was directed at him, as he and his family are living in the premises, along with workers of Jera General Construction.

Earlier, 1-Care party-list Rep. Michael Angelo Rivera, vice chairman of the House energy panel, urged the Philippine National Police to provide security to Lasureco following the May 13 incident.

For his part, Mindoro Oriental Rep. Rey Umali, who chairs the energy committee, decried the arson attack as “most unfortunate because the people will suffer from these conflicts.”