Kabataan Partylist slams arrest of elder consumer advocate against PrimeWater in Bulacan

The so-called unjust arrest of 70-year-old engineer Even Calajate, president of the Alliance for Consumer Protection (ACP) and former chairman of the San Jose Del Monte Water District (SJDMWD), was condemned by Kabataan Partylist over alleged politically motivated perjury charges shortly after he exposed the collusion of local government officials and business agents in pushing the entry of the Villars’ PrimeWater in San Jose Del Monte (SJDM), Bulacan.

"Si Engr. Calajate ang guest ko noong 2025 SONA ng Pangulo para makapagsalita siya tungkol sa palpak na serbisyo ng PrimeWater sa kanilang bayan sa gitna ng matinding baha. Malinaw na ganti ito sa paglalantad niya sa naging sabwatan ng lokal na opisyal at negosyante para pagkakitaan ang karapatan sa tubig ng mga Bulakenyo," Rep. Co said.

Calajate is a renowned public servant and consumer rights advocate who led the expansion of water services in SJDM from 1,300 households in 1989 to 72,000 in 2006 before leaving his post as Board Chairman of SJDMWD.

In 2006, SJDMWD was awarded “Outstanding Water District” by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) under his leadership. Recently, he led the filing of cases against PrimeWater and protests over the worsening water service quality provided by the company.

"Tinutugis ang mga lingkod-bayan na matapang na lumalaban sa korapsyon at pananamantala, pero di pa rin napapanagot ang mga Villar sa palpak na serbisyo ng PrimeWater. Panawagan natin na ibasura ang kaso laban kay Engr. Calajate at agad siyang palayain," Rep. Co expressed.

"Imbes na atakehin ang simpleng mamamayan, dapat bayaran ng danyos ang mga konsyumer sa pamamagitan ng refund at iba pang anyo ng kompensasyon. Itigil na ang pribatisasyon sa tubig at tiyakin ang malinis, abot-kamay, at de kalidad na water service para sa mahihirap," Rep. Co ended.