The Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (ORMECO) has uncovered a syndicated and organized electricity theft operation involving prominent businessmen and politicians, leading to approximately P37 million pesos in stolen power over recent weeks, officials said Monday.

ORMECO General Manager Humphrey Dolor revealed, in a radio interview, that 14 high-profile individuals, including incumbent and former politicians, business owners, and government officials, have been implicated in the systematic power theft scheme.

“We discovered this was operated by organized groups,” Dolor said in a radio interview.

“The investigation revealed unauthorized line modifications inside residential properties in Naujan, where our meter lines shouldn’t be present.”

The cooperative identified three syndicate groups operating across Oriental Mindoro, with connections possibly extending to Occidental Mindoro, Batangas, Laguna, San Pablo, and Quezon.

Among the establishments involved are rice mills, fishing operations, and three gas stations.

According to Dolor, the theft has contributed enormously to ORMECO’s system losses, costing consumers P2 per kilowatt-hour in additional charges.

The cooperative has already seen a P0.31 per kilowatt-hour reduction in tariffs since beginning its crackdown, Dolor said.

Under Republic Act 7832 (Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act), offenders face criminal charges and must pay differential billing computed over five years of theft.

“Some of the wealthy individuals are now negotiating settlements, while others face legal action,” Dolor said.

“We’re treating this as a violation of the Anti-Pilferage Act rather than a political issue.”

ORMECO plans to file formal charges in court against one syndicate group this week.

The investigation remains ongoing.