Community and church leaders from Atimonan, Quezon, along with the Quezon for Environment (QUEEN) and the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), have filed criminal and administrative complaints against Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon S. Garin over her approval of the 1,200-megawatt Atimonan One Energy Inc. (A1E) coal-fired power project despite the country’s 2020 coal moratorium.

Filed before the Office of the Ombudsman on November 3, 2025, the complaint accuses Garin of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019), as well as committing grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The groups claimed that the Atimonan project does not qualify for exemption under the moratorium yet was cleared by the DOE in July 2025. They also argued that the October 14, 2025 DOE advisory, which expanded exemptions, could not be applied retroactively to justify the approval.

Fr. Warren Puno, lead convenor of QUEEN, said the approval contradicts the government’s renewable energy transition goals. “No one is interested in investing in the construction of coal plants anymore as their era has passed,” he said.

Atty. Aaron Pedrosa, PMCJ chief legal counsel, described the move as “unlawful and bearing the hallmarks of corruption,” emphasizing that the project proponent also lacks a Health Impact Clearance Certificate, as required by DOH-DILG Joint Administrative Order No. 2021-0001.

The complainants also mentioned that Quezon already hosts five existing coal plants with a combined capacity of 2,250 megawatts, which they said have affected local livelihoods and public health.

They called on the Ombudsman to investigate the issue and urged the national government to uphold the coal moratorium and strengthen its commitment to climate justice and environmental protection.

What are your thoughts on how coal moratorium policies should be enforced in the country’s energy planning?

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