POWER went out in several parts of Malacañang compound at past noon Wednesday after drilling activities by the Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI) hit an underground electric cable.
The incident, which happened at 12:20 p.m. about five meters from Gate 1 or Malacañang's main gate at J. P. Laurel Street, caused a power transformer near the complex to explode. Two fire trucks rushed to the scene to put out any possible fire.
Power was cut off at the nearby Premier Guest House, which houses the offices of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio, and at the New Executive Building (NEB), which houses the Office of the Press Secretary and the Malacañang Press Working Area.
Presidential Management Staff director general Cerge Remonde and deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez, supposed to meet with Ermita at the Guest House, went out due to the power failure.
Work in Malacañang was not suspended because power was available at the Mabini Hall and Kalayaan Hall. Ermita held his weekly briefing at his office in Mabini Hall instead of the briefing room at NEB.
The NEB was sustained by a generator but reporters were told that they could only work up to 6 p.m.
Last Monday, a fire believed to be caused by a short circuit razed part of the Tahanan ng Masa building near the St. Michael's Church. The building housed the office of deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo. (JMR/Sunnex)
