The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines has asked the Philippine National Police to investigate possible sabotage on the Ilijan-Tayabas 500-kV line. The request follows a conductor severance that caused a major power disruption.
In a letter dated May 15, 2026, NGCP reported that the line tripped around 6:30 a.m. on May 13. The conductor between Towers 129 and 130 in Barangay Haligue Silangan, Batangas City, was found severed. This led to the loss of about 1,700 MW from connected plants.
The incident worsened thin reserves and triggered red and yellow alerts in Luzon and the Visayas. NGCP inspectors determined the damage did not match normal wear or natural causes and showed signs of deliberate cuts between spacers.
No prior defects were found on the line. NGCP stated that law enforcement assistance was needed for a full investigation to protect the transmission network.