AFP museum in danger of shutdown due to unpaid electric bills

The museum of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Camp Aguinaldo, which houses historical collections and military artifacts, is in danger of losing electricity due to its unsettled bills worth P1.3 million.

Elizabeth Dapiton, administrator of the AFP Museum and Historical Library, said they would be forced to shut down their operations if the AFP pursues its threat to cut off their electricity.

"Their collection is being kept here, so we are like the repository of the collections of AFP," Dapiton said.

Among the historical artifacts in the museum was a firearm and uniform of revolutionary leader Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the country’s first president.

Dapiton said the AFP threatened to cut off their electricity if they fail to pay their bills amounting to P1,374,808.61 covering the months from November 2013 to December last year.

"Please be informed that you are given five working days from the receipt of this notice to pay the amount of P1,374,808.61, representing unpaid electricity account," the disconnection notice, which Dapiton said they received last January 27, said.

"If you fail to pay the whole amount within the prescribed period, this command will disconnect your electricity connection on 03 February 2016," it added.

The notice was signed by Maj. Lowen Tinio, head of the Office of the Non-Appropriated Funds of the GHQ and Headquarters Service Command.

The museum was established in 1996 and ran by the AFP Museum and Historical Library Foundation Inc. under former AFP chief Gen. Arturo Enrille. It is located inside the AFP Museum and Multi-Purpose Theater building built during the time of Enrille as AFP chief.

According to Dapiton, there was a "verbal agreement" that the AFP will shoulder the utilities of the museum.

"They (AFP) know from the start that this is a non-stock, non-profit foundation," she said. "We have no means to pay our utilities."

However, in November 2013, the AFP informed the foundation that the museum will be billed for its electricity usage because of a camp ruling treating the foundation as a concessionaire or tenant, Dapiton said.

It was not immediately clear why the AFP is now charging the museum for its electricity. —KBK, GMA News