Power interruption during AFP oath-taking ceremony only a ‘technical problem’ --Palace

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 4): Power interruption during AFP oath-taking ceremony only a ‘technical problem’ --Palace

Malacanang has clarified that the power interruption during the oath-taking ceremony of 49 officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday morning was merely due to “technical problem.”

The ceremony was held at the Rizal Hall in Malacanang where power went off twice -- the first time before the arrival of President Benigno S. Aquino.

Power went off a second time while families of the AFP officers who took their oath before the President were having their photos taken.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr., in a Palace press briefing, explained this following speculations that the power interruption might be related to the rotational blackouts in some Mindanao areas.

It can be recalled that some areas in Mindanao are currently experiencing rotational brownouts due to tripping of line faults or disturbances.

“Ang sabi po ng director ng fiscal plant ay may technical problem lang naman daw yun,” Coloma said. “Nadiskubre naman nila agad.”

“Nag-brownout kasi ng panandalian, nai-restore, sa kalagitaan ng picture-taking ay naulit,” he added.

“Nagbawas lang ng ilang ilaw, nai-balik na rin naman. Walang dapat ipag-alala. Wala ring relasyon sa mas malalaki pang problema sa enerhiya,” Coloma said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=622037