Nordeco Denies Deliberate Damage in Tagum Office Turnover to Davao Light
The Northern Davao Electric Cooperative has firmly rejected allegations from the Tagum City Chamber of Commerce and Industry that it deliberately damaged its Tipaz office during a court-ordered turnover to Davao Light and Power Company. The cooperative insists its departure was lawful and orderly, dismissing the controversy as sensationalized propaganda meant to obscure larger truths about the region's power distribution transition.
Court-Ordered Vacating Completed
The Nordeco–Tipaz Office Building became vacant on March 25, 2026, following the enforcement of a writ of possession issued by the Regional Trial Court in Tagum City. Davao Light has officially taken over all assets, including substations, land, and the building itself, with the enforcement carried out by a sheriff and witnesses. In a statement released in Cebuano, Nordeco maintained that its exit from the office in Tipaz, Magugpo East, Tagum City complied completely with the court's order.
"The vacating of the Nordeco office in Tipaz, Magugpo East, Tagum City is a clear compliance with the court's order," the cooperative stated. "If there are any debris or remnants left behind, these are normal and should not be made into a major issue."
Chamber's Allegations and Nordeco's Response
On March 30, 2026, the Tagum City Chamber of Commerce and Industry condemned what it described as the appalling condition of Nordeco's Tipaz office following the turnover. The chamber alleged that critical infrastructure including computers, servers, and data storage devices was deliberately damaged or rendered unusable prior to the handover, calling it a serious breach of public trust and legal compliance.
"We strongly denounce the appalling and petty behavior of the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative management following the deliberate trashing of their Tipaz office facilities during the turnover," the chamber stated.
Nordeco responded forcefully, characterizing the chamber's approach as baseless and a cheap form of propaganda. "The Chamber's way of 'sensationalizing' the matter is baseless and a 'cheap' form of propaganda meant to cover up a larger truth," the cooperative added in its statement.
Broader Power Distribution Dispute
This incident occurs amid a contentious transition in local power distribution following legal rulings that allowed Davao Light to assume control over areas previously served by Nordeco. Business groups have largely supported the transition, citing expectations of improved service reliability and operational efficiency under private utility management. However, Nordeco and its supporters have raised significant concerns about implications for rural electrification and cooperative governance.
The cooperative emphasized that despite losing control of specific facilities, it remains committed to serving communities in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro, particularly in far-flung areas where electrification is less profitable. Nordeco further stressed that the chamber does not represent the interests of the cooperative's more than 200,000 member-consumer-owners, especially those in rural and underserved communities.
Timeline of Recent Developments
- Early March 2026: Court rulings affirm implementation of a writ of possession favoring Davao Light, allowing it to take control of key substations and facilities in Tagum City.
- Mid-March 2026: Davao Light begins assuming operational control of selected substations previously managed by Nordeco.
- March 25, 2026: Turnover of the Nordeco Tipaz office to a court-appointed sheriff occurs as part of writ enforcement.
- March 30, 2026: Tagum Chamber releases statement condemning Nordeco's alleged actions during turnover.
Calls for Accountability and Clarity
As both sides maintain their positions, the chamber has called on authorities to investigate the incident and hold accountable any individuals responsible for potential violations of court orders. The business leaders emphasized that the allegedly damaged assets were not privately owned but funded by electricity consumers across the province.
"These assets – computers, servers, essential hard drives, and files – are not the personal property of a few disgruntled executives," the chamber's statement read. "They are consumer-owned resources, funded by the hard-earned money of the very people Nordeco has committed to serve."
Meanwhile, Nordeco continues to frame the issue within a larger narrative of protecting consumer ownership and resisting what it perceives as the privatization of electric service in the region. The cooperative maintains that any items left behind were ordinary remnants of a lawful transition, not evidence of deliberate destruction.
