Marilyn Cahatol

Energy Usec. Sharon Garin attends the Finance Subcommittee E's public hearing on the proposed 2024 budgets of government owned- and controlled corporations (GOCCs), namely National Power Corporation, Philippine National Oil Company, and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation on September 22, 2023.  Joseph Vidal, Senate PRIB handout/file

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Environmental groups filed a criminal and administrative complaint against Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin on Monday, November 3, at the Office of the Ombudsman over her approval of the 1,200-Megawatt (MW) Atimonan One Energy Inc. (A1E) coal-fired power plant project “despite the prevailing coal moratorium.”</p><p>The charges listed in the complaint are graft, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. </p><p>According to complainants, the project was exempted from the moratorium despite not meeting requirements for this.</p><p>“Sabi nga natin hindi lang flood control ‘yung pagkamal ng mga pondo ng kataong bayan ang mukha ng korapsyon. Ang pagkiling sa mga kontrata, pagbigay ng undue advantage sa mga korporasyon, mga negosyante ay isang porma ng korapsyon kung klarong dehado o kaya ‘di kaya labag sa alituntunin at batas mga pamantayan na mismo ‘yung ahensiya ng gobyerno ang nagba-back,” Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) Chief Legal Counsel Atty. Aaron Pedrosa said during a protest on the day of filing.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/18/ph-sets-own-net-zero-path-as-first-gen-expands-geothermal-in-mindanao-2124">PH sets own net zero path as First Gen expands geothermal in Mindanao</a></div><p>Among those who filed the complaint are Quezon for Environment (QUEEN), church leaders and residents from Atimonan in Quezon Province, and the PMCJ.</p><p>The complainants ask that Garin be preventively suspended pending investigation.</p><p>“‘Yung prayer po natin ay i-suspend habang dinidinig ‘yung kaso si DOE Secretary Garin at tsaka i-dismiss without prejudice to filing of the necessary cases. Dito masusubok kung gaano kaseryoso ‘yung kasalukuyang ombudsman,” Pedrosa added.</p><p>According to one of the complainants, Father Warren Puno, ground preparations for the project already led to environmental damage.</p><p>“Nag-ground preparation palang sila, sirang sira na ‘yung bundok. Nagtayo na sila doon ng port so apektado na din ‘yung mga mamamayan… ‘Yung power plant na sabing magbibigay ng mga livelihood at mga pangkabuhayan doon sa mga na-displace na mga mamamayan, ‘yung mga ginawa nilang mga livelihood center doon, mga sira-sira na. Napuntahan ko,” Puno said.</p><p>ABS-CBN is reaching out to Garin and the DOE for comment on the matter.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/10/23/-hindi-pr-doe-says-ph-ahead-of-other-countries-in-prep-for-nuclear-power-plant-1353">‘Hindi PR’ — DOE says PH ahead of other countries in prep for nuclear power plant</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CtZNp0i9fgY?si=sC7A14EvY4SNbmdb" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Environmental groups have filed a criminal and administrative complaint against Energy Secretary Sharon Garin on Monday at the Office of the Ombudsman over her approval of the Atimonan One Energy Inc. coal-fired power plant project “despite the prevailing coal moratorium.”</p>

Environmental groups have filed a criminal and administrative complaint against Energy Secretary Sharon Garin on Monday at the Office of the Ombudsman over her approval of the Atimonan One Energy Inc. coal-fired power plant project “despite the prevailing coal moratorium.”

Graft complaint filed vs. energy chief Garin over power plant project approval

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Graft complaint filed vs. energy chief Garin over power plant project approval

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 03, 2025 07:12 PM PHT

|

Updated Nov 04, 2025 09:05 AM PHT

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Department of Energy

ombudsman

power plant project

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