Manila, Aug. 15 -- Cabinet Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. has condemned the "deplorable" behavior of a Norwegian proponent during a public consultation on the proposed 50-megawatt hyperscale artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Oton, Iloilo.

This came after data center developer Daniel Stefan Robertsen walked out of the venue, after several residents expressed opposition to the proposed AI data center campus, which would be built on a 10-hectare property in Barangay Abilay Sur, Oton.

During the public hearing held Friday, Robertsen became visibly upset as residents raised concern over the potential impact of the proposed project on water resources.

Before leaving the venue, he said he would not force anyone to build the ...