AI data center proponent walks out, swears at Oton residents amid public consultation

AI data center proponent Daniel Stefan Robertsen has come under scrutiny over his conduct toward residents and local media at a public consultation at the Brgy. Abilay Sur Chapel on Aug. 14, where residents raised questions about the proposed 50-megawatt AI data center in Oton, Iloilo.

The center proposed by Norwegian national Robertsen spans about 10 hectares in Abilay Sur, Oton, for high-capacity artificial intelligence computing and data processing, which he described as a potential first in Western Visayas.

The proposal has drawn concerns from residents over its heavy demand for water and electricity in an area of fertile farmlands.

Residents are already dealing with occasional blackouts and power constraints in the Visayas grid, while water supply remains an ongoing issue for farming communities.

During the consultation, tensions escalated in the open forum when residents raised concerns and Sangguniang Bayan member Atty. Annie Rose Paro asked about the water sources and other impacts.

Robertsen told the crowd that if they did not want the project, he would not force it, saying he was financially stable and saw no reason to continue the discussion. 

“If you don’t want it, let’s stop the discussion now,” he said, reportedly becoming irritated before leaving the venue.

The local reporters then approached Robertsen for comments; instead, he cursed at them and threatened legal action over their coverage.

“If you don’t have brain, just f*ck, go away,” Robertsen said, according to media videos.

Cabinet Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. condemned Robertsen’s reported conduct, saying the behavior was “deplorable.”

“Hindi mo dapat murahin o bastusin ang mga Pilipino, lalo na sa sarili naming bansa. As a foreigner, he is expected to respect our people and our laws,” Abalos said in a statement via the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.

Vice Mayor Jose Neil Olivares further clarified that the Sangguniang Bayan of Oton has not endorsed or approved the proposed data center, saying it was still in the consultation stage and stressing that neither his office nor the municipal council had authorized the project.

“Wala pa naka-endorso ang Sangguniang Bayan sang Oton agod tugotan ang Norwegian nga kompaniya nga magtukod sang data center sa Abilay Sur. Kon may naga hambal nga ini nga proyekto gina-endorso sang vice mayor, iya komitiba ukon ang Sanggunian mismo, ina sala nga impormasyon,” he stated via Daily Guardian.

(Hindi pa inendorso ng Sangguniang Bayan ng Oton ang pagbibigay-daan sa kumpanyang Norwegian na magtayo ng data center sa Abilay Sur. Kung may nagsasabi na ang proyektong ito ay ineendorso ng vice mayor, ng kanyang komite, o ng Sangguniang Bayan mismo, mali ang impormasyong iyon.)

Olivares later described the walkout as a possible sign that Robertsen was withdrawing the proposal.

Oton National High School’s student publications, The Seaside Echo and Ang Aplaya, released a statement saying, “Oton is not a business deal. Oton already suffers from occasional blackouts and power outages due to the non-availability of imported power, causing manual load dropping in the Visayas. How will it handle the further impact of an additional power-consuming facility?”

As of this writing, the project’s status remains unclear, with local leaders waiting for written confirmation from Robertsen’s side on whether the proposal will proceed, while residents continue to demand transparency, independent studies on water and power impacts, and genuine community consent before any large-scale facility moves forward at the proposed site.