Statements on Beneco power struggle

 BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

(Yours Truly would like to share some statements on the controversy regarding the power struggle at Benguet Electric Cooperative. In interest of fair play, those alluded to may e-mail us their response for publication) 
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On the forceful takeover of Beneco
    Lubos nating kinokondena ang sapilitang pagtake-over sa Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) nitong Lunes, kung saan naging kasangkapan pa ang mga miyembro ng kapulisan sa panig ng puwersahang pagkamkam sa liderato ng kooperatiba.
It was reported that many consumers and employees were affected, with some Beneco employees even barred from work after they criticized the forceful takeover.
    Ang nakakagalit at kasuklam-suklam dito: Sa gitna ng pandemya, at sa panahon ng pagbangon sa katatapos lang na kalamidad, naaatim pa talaga na ipadanas sa mga nasalanta at naghihikahos ang ganitong walang pakundangang proseso para lamang mailuklok lang ang sarili sa poder.
    Where is the humanity?  Nasaan ang puso at awa?  Hindi dapat hinahayaan ang kaganiran ang mangibabaw sa bayan.
    Hangad natin ang maigting na imbestigasyon ukol sa isyung ito, at ang agarang pagtugon dito sa payapa, makatotohanan at makatarungang proseso.

Sen. Leila M. de Lima

Dispatch from Camp Crame
            (10/20/21)
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Gestapo-like raid on Beneco
    I am saddened and concerned with the power struggle that has enveloped the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco), one of the most successful electric cooperatives in the Philippines and a respected and loved institution in the Cordillera region.
I strongly condemn the Gestapo-like raid on the Beneco head office assisted by armed police before daybreak and while Beneco linemen were busy repairing downed power infrastructure.
    Such strong-arm tactics are not the indigenous peoples' way. We do not force ourselves or our opinions on others. We seek consensus, however long the process takes. In the end, the resolution is more binding and enduring for all concerned.
I implore the parties that have initiated and enabled these damaging acts to desist and find ways within the rule of law to settle this contentious situation.
    Beneco is a well-run organization with a professional management and invested member consumer-owners (MCOs). There has so far been no showing that it is mismanaged or in financial trouble, so why the need for outside and forceful intervention?
I totally support the people of Benguet, Baguio City, and the Beneco MCOs in their fight for the beloved electric cooperative.
I have always supported the protection of consumer-owned organizations and cooperatives from unfair and unjust outside intervention, and I hope to give them stronger protection through clear laws.
     Haggiyo, Beneco!
     

(Sgd.) Teddy Brawner Baguilat

    Proud Cordilleran
                (Teddy B. Baguilat is former governor and congressman of Ifugao who is now a senatorial candidate – Ed)       
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Again, on red-tagging amid the Beneco row
    It has come to our attention that some unscrupulous individuals, groups, pages, and apparent Facebook trolls are again spreading disinformation about Tongtongan ti Umili, its allied organizations, and other concerned member-consumer-owners (MCOs) for its support to the Benguet Electric Cooperative.
    These are the usual red-tagging posts which we have faced in the past because of our unstifled efforts to raise the issues of the umili and fight for our rights and welfare. To make matters worse, a concerned MCO and one of the more active voice in this issue, Ms. Mia Magdalena Fokno, was falsely and maliciously tagged by the Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCOR) in their police journal as a communist-front organization (CFO) personality, similar to what they did to a journalist in recent past. 
    We strongly denounce these incidents of red-tagging. Already, we have filed complaints to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and lodged cases in court to battle this kind of disinformation.
    We wish to reiterate that we will exhaust all legal remedies to hold accountable those who we have identified to be party to the spreading of these malicious claims such as red-tagging and terrorist-tagging.
    Kakailian, saan tayo agpaapekto iti pammadakes ken panangdadael nga araramiden da. Saan tayon a mamati iti ikakasta da a red-tagging. Namin-mano nga beses dan inred-tag ti organisasyon tayo ngem adda tayo met latta, sibibiag, ken situtured nga ilablaban ti karbengan tayo ken pagsayaatan tayo. Napaneknekan tayo metlaeng babaen iti CHR ken dagiti desisyon ti korte nga madi ken awan pulos ti kinapudno dagiti iwarwaragawag da a red-tagging*. 
    Ti aktibismo ket saan a terorismo. Sino aya ti adda palpaltog kas kada dadakkel nga armas da idiay Beneco? Saan a datayo.
    Para kadagiti red-taggers: we are noting your names and gathering evidences. Persist in spreading these falsities and maliciousness, then we will see you in court. 
    As for the police, we challenge them to stand with the wider member-consumer-owners (MCOs) of the cooperative. We ask that you not become tools of terror, like what the camp of Ms. Rafael and NEA made you be on the morning of October 18. We challenge you to be true to your mandate in protecting the people, not sow fear, and stop spreading malicious lies.
    This is no longer an issue of who is left and who is right. This Beneco issue cuts through political colors. This concerns the welfare of the umili of Baguio and Benguet. Let us focus on this and other important issues. Let us continue to unite, collectively stand up for what is right, work for justice, and ending tyranny.
    Court decisions say red-tagging is wrong and punishable by law.

Jeoffrey Larua, Secretary-General

Tongtongan ti Umili
Cordillera Peoples Alliance

(Tongtongan ti Umili is a people’s forum in Baguio City, a network of progressive peoples' organizations in the city advocating people’s rights and welfare. Tongtongan is the local chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) in Metro Baguio.)