Magalong, Go Palangdan: Beneco GM is Licoben

BAGUIO CITY -- “Why fix if ain’t broken?” “NEA, huwag na kayong makialam.” “I called on the NEA to solve the problem. Instead, it issued a preventive suspension order (PSO).” 
    The first statement came from mayor Benjamin Magalong. The second from Itogon mayor Victorio Palangdan and the third, from Baguio City Rep. Mark Go.
    The three officials took turns in decrying the growing conflict in the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) spawned by the impasse on its general manager as Melchor Licoben, an engineer, continues to hold fort as the GM in South Drive, Baguio City while rival Ana Maria Paz Rafael, a lawyer, still insists she is the GM as she has publicly announced that her office is at the YMCA, Session Road.
    The three public officials did not conceal their strong support for Licoben during Beneco’s Annual General Membership Assembly (Agma) on Oct. 2 at the Gen. Pedro Dumol Hall of Beneco’s South Drive office.
    Magalong, who is running for reelection, bewailed forces that are attempting to disturb the peace within the electric cooperative. “Walang problema sa Beneco,” he said, referring to Beneco’s reputation as one of the country’s top performing electric cooperatives.
    He called on the National Electrification Administration Board of Administrators (NEA BOA) to respect the decision of Beneco’s board of directors that named and appointed Licoben as the GM.   
    He saluted the employees for their unwavering support for Licoben and told them they must hold their ground “through hell or high water.”
    Rep. Go expressed his frustration that the NEA played deaf on calls that it must resolve the controversy in Beneco immediately and peacefully. He said he was surprised that the NEA opted instead to issue a preventive suspension order against directors   Mike Maspil, Josephine Tuling, Jeffred Acop, Peter Busaing, Robert Valenin, Fr. Jonathan Obar and lawyer Esteban Somngi and GM Licoben.
    Good, he said, that during the budget hearing of the Department of Energy at the lower house, the DOE admitted that it still recognized Licoben as the GM.
    During the public hearing of the Committee  on Energy of the House of Representatives in August, Go took note of the abuse of discretion committed by the NEA Board of Administrators when it violated NEA Memorandum No. 2017-035 which contained the rules the NEA promulgated itself to govern the selection of GMs.
    He said that he will look into the NEA’s charter and will move to amend those provisions that are deemed overreaching into the affairs of ECs.
    NEAs’ intervention on ECs must stop, the solon, who is also gunning for another term, said.
    Palangdan did not mince words when he lambasted NEA for issuing the preventive suspension order. In a motion before the assembly, he said that: “We will not entertain the suspension of the seven directors and GM Licoben.” 
    “We are governed by laws and not of men,” he said, referring to NEA’s decision to appoint Rafael as the GM despite the Beneco BOD having named Licoben as GM earlier.
    “We ask the NEA to stop intervening in Beneco since Beneco can stand by itself,” he said as he scored the orders and issuances of NEA which he said have wrought havoc on the electric cooperative. 
    “Enough is enough,” Palangdan, who will run as Benguet representative, declared.