After power supply woes, water service cutoff hounds QC police

Barely three months after having its electricity cut off over unpaid bills, the Quezon City Police District suffered yet another whammy after its water service was cut. Radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported the QCPD headquarters at Camp Karingal in Barangay Sikatuna presently owes the local water utility at least P200,000 in unpaid bills. But Quezon City police director Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele said they are hoping water service can be restored soon, as they are paying their debt. He said the unpaid bill, dating back to October 2009, was initially P1 million. Water supply was cut off in August and has yet to be restored. For now, Mantele said they are getting by on water rations from the local Bureau of Fire Protection. Only last June, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) had power to one of its stations cut off and had to "borrow" electricity from a nearby jail facility. The QCPD Station 10 in Barangay Kamuning had to use a temporary power connection from a nearby Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility to power up the station’s lobby lights. The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) cut off electricity at the station after it failed to pay its bills since 2005 worth around P5 million, SPO2 Jorge Villanueva of the QCPD Station 10 told GMANews.TV over the phone. Villanueva, however, said the station's power woe did not last long because they were able to settle the bill that same month. He said the National Capital Region Police Office gave P1 million, while the Quezon City local government donated P2 million to help settle the bill. Villanueva said power was restored even if there was still a P2-million remaining balance in their bill. — with Mark D. Merueñas / LBG, GMANews.TV