NEA fires Rafael, Beneco Board; polls in six months
>> Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Interim Board installed
BAGUIO CITY -- The
National Electrification Administration (NEA) on Wednesday fired lawyer Ana
Maria Paz Rafael as the general manager of the Benguet Electric Cooperative and
also dissolved its board of directors in a bid to restore normalcy in the cooperative
that has been wracked with the controversy on who should sit as the GM.
Led by administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda, the NEA served on Rafael a copy of NEA Resolution No. 2023-02 dated Jan. 10, 2022 that ruled Rafael evidently failed to meet the key performance standards for Beneco that resulted to the cooperative’s regression from a category Triple A to a category B electric cooperative.
The order of dismissal said that Rafael’s probationary appointment is being recalled and revoked effective immediately to foster industrial peace.
In a separate ruling, the NEA also found the board directors liable for three counts of administrative offenses one of which merited the penalty of removal from office.
Dismissed were board directors Esteban Somngi, Mike Maspil, Robert Valentin, Josephine Tuling, Jeffred Acop, Peter Busaing, Jonathan Obar (who allied with Melchor Licoben as GM) and Rocky Aliping, Enrique Moresto, James Aclopen and Luke Gomeyac (who allied with Rafael as GM).
They were also barred to run as directors in the future as their liability disqualified them from any intent to reclaim their seats.
Melchor Licoben, who the board unanimously named and appointed as GM in April, 2020, was suspended for 45 days for non-compliance to NEA rules.
The NEA also designated Ramel Rifani, network services department manager, as acting GM for six months.
Rifani will work with a five man multi-sectoral task force the NEA formed to perform the functions of the board of directors in the interim and to whom Almeda gave the order to call for district elections within six months.
The task force is chaired by Steve Cating (business sector) while the other members are George Dumawing (Customer/Professional Sector), Rodolfo de Guia (religious sector), Elma Donaal (academe/education sector), and Joaquin Geronimo Depalog Jr. (agriculture sector).
The NEA’s decision is expected to court a slew of court cases as Rafael has assailed the NEA’s action, saying her inability to make a turn-around for Beneco’s operations was caused by NEA’s failure to turn over the Beneco premises to her leadership.
In a post, she said that she will explore all legal remedies, claiming the bases to unseat her were skewed and whimsical.
The directors allied with Licoben, meanwhile, are getting ready with their petition to be filed before the Court of Appeals.
The Beneco Employees Union (BELU) and Beneco Supervisors Association (BSA) had mixed feelings about NEA’s decision.
Jefferd Monang, BELU president, said while the employees welcomed Rafael’s dismissal, they felt sad that Licoben was suspended in his capacity as assistant general manager and will return in the same capacity after serving the suspension.
Almeda told the employees that Licoben’s appointment as GM by the board in 2020 did not complete the process that must follow such appointment that’s why he is still recognized in his former position as the assistant GM.
“Rafael is out and we are thankful for that,” Monang said. “But we do hope that the NEA will still confirm GM Licoben as our GM since the recruitment process that resulted to Rafael being named as GM clearly breached NEA’s rules of GM selection,” he said.
Edison de Guzman, BSA president, said that the NEA must consider the decision of the member consumer owners during the annual general membership assembly in 2021 and 2022 that affirmed the choice of Licoben as GM.
Almeda said he understood the sentiments and overwhelming support given to Licoben but said that the NEA has to step in to solve the GM fiasco and allow Beneco to recoup its standing as a Triple A electric cooperative.
The NEA chief added that Licoben can reapply as GM once the NEA announces the opening of the vacancy for the position.
Asked if Rafael can still apply, Almeda said any person has the right to apply. “But this time, we will ensure that the procedure of recruitment and the qualifications for the position will be observed to the letter,” he said.
Led by administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda, the NEA served on Rafael a copy of NEA Resolution No. 2023-02 dated Jan. 10, 2022 that ruled Rafael evidently failed to meet the key performance standards for Beneco that resulted to the cooperative’s regression from a category Triple A to a category B electric cooperative.
The order of dismissal said that Rafael’s probationary appointment is being recalled and revoked effective immediately to foster industrial peace.
In a separate ruling, the NEA also found the board directors liable for three counts of administrative offenses one of which merited the penalty of removal from office.
Dismissed were board directors Esteban Somngi, Mike Maspil, Robert Valentin, Josephine Tuling, Jeffred Acop, Peter Busaing, Jonathan Obar (who allied with Melchor Licoben as GM) and Rocky Aliping, Enrique Moresto, James Aclopen and Luke Gomeyac (who allied with Rafael as GM).
They were also barred to run as directors in the future as their liability disqualified them from any intent to reclaim their seats.
Melchor Licoben, who the board unanimously named and appointed as GM in April, 2020, was suspended for 45 days for non-compliance to NEA rules.
The NEA also designated Ramel Rifani, network services department manager, as acting GM for six months.
Rifani will work with a five man multi-sectoral task force the NEA formed to perform the functions of the board of directors in the interim and to whom Almeda gave the order to call for district elections within six months.
The task force is chaired by Steve Cating (business sector) while the other members are George Dumawing (Customer/Professional Sector), Rodolfo de Guia (religious sector), Elma Donaal (academe/education sector), and Joaquin Geronimo Depalog Jr. (agriculture sector).
The NEA’s decision is expected to court a slew of court cases as Rafael has assailed the NEA’s action, saying her inability to make a turn-around for Beneco’s operations was caused by NEA’s failure to turn over the Beneco premises to her leadership.
In a post, she said that she will explore all legal remedies, claiming the bases to unseat her were skewed and whimsical.
The directors allied with Licoben, meanwhile, are getting ready with their petition to be filed before the Court of Appeals.
The Beneco Employees Union (BELU) and Beneco Supervisors Association (BSA) had mixed feelings about NEA’s decision.
Jefferd Monang, BELU president, said while the employees welcomed Rafael’s dismissal, they felt sad that Licoben was suspended in his capacity as assistant general manager and will return in the same capacity after serving the suspension.
Almeda told the employees that Licoben’s appointment as GM by the board in 2020 did not complete the process that must follow such appointment that’s why he is still recognized in his former position as the assistant GM.
“Rafael is out and we are thankful for that,” Monang said. “But we do hope that the NEA will still confirm GM Licoben as our GM since the recruitment process that resulted to Rafael being named as GM clearly breached NEA’s rules of GM selection,” he said.
Edison de Guzman, BSA president, said that the NEA must consider the decision of the member consumer owners during the annual general membership assembly in 2021 and 2022 that affirmed the choice of Licoben as GM.
Almeda said he understood the sentiments and overwhelming support given to Licoben but said that the NEA has to step in to solve the GM fiasco and allow Beneco to recoup its standing as a Triple A electric cooperative.
The NEA chief added that Licoben can reapply as GM once the NEA announces the opening of the vacancy for the position.
Asked if Rafael can still apply, Almeda said any person has the right to apply. “But this time, we will ensure that the procedure of recruitment and the qualifications for the position will be observed to the letter,” he said.
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