Beneco: Pay power bills at coop offices, not banks
>> Sunday, December 5, 2021
NEA appointees dig in, hold office at posh hotel
BAGUIO CITY – Benguet Electric Cooperative officials urged power users
to pay directly at their offices and outlets after some banks recently froze
Beneco accounts.
Beneco general manager Melchor Licoben and the power cooperative’s board of directors aired this appeal after appointees of the National Electrification Agency reportedly convinced some banks they were the “legitimate” signatories of the Beneco accounts.
Banks which “froze” Beneco accounts included Development Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), LandBank, Rang-ay and MetroBank.
The Philippine National Bank Branch here along Session Road reportedly released a total of P2.6 million to the NEA appointees including a Beneco director who was kicked out of office during a recent general assembly of member-consumer-owners for having sided, along with three other Beneco directors, with NEA appointees.
Licoben had issued directives urging power consumers to pay directly at Beneco offices like at their main office in South Drive, sub-offices at Maharlika, Bonuan, km 4 in La Trinidad, Buguias and collection centers in Benguet towns.
Beneco officials said the power cooperative needed funds to pay power suppliers like the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines considering said banks froze accounts.
NEA appointees included lawyer Ana Marie Rafael, former Assistant Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office who is insisting she is the legitimate Beneco general manager claiming she was appointed by the NEA board of administrators and lawyer Omar Mayo, who was designated Beneco project supervisor by NEA.
Beneco member-consumer-owners said the NEA cannot appoint GMs of electric cooperatives basing from NEA rules itself.
They said only board of directors of electric cooperatives like Beneco can appoint their GM.
The Beneco had filed a case with the Court of Appeals regarding the issue but the court has yet to issue a ruling.
The Beneco controversy, which pitted people and institutions against each other may take some weeks after the May elections next year to be resolved when President Duterte is out of office, party-list sources like Philreca said.
Reports said government and power brokers in the industry were out to totally control management of electric cooperatives like Beneco and privatize these before the President’s term will end.
Rafael is reportedly now holding office at a hotel called Lafayette along military Cutoff after MCOs criticized YMCA management for letting Rafael and her group hold office at the Christian facility with rent of P5,000 a day.
It was here where a prosecutor was allegedly seen having a meal with companions.
Cases filed by Beneco against government appointees and minions were later reportedly dismissed.
This, as Licoben, who was appointed by the Beneco Board as GM holds office at the electric cooperative’s main office here in South Drive.
He had been directing its daily operations after that 2-day takeover by Mayo who was designated project supervisor of Beneco by the NEA.
Licoben resumed work at the Beneco main headquarters after it was retaken by MCOs and Beneco employees.
Since then, Mayo, Rafael and their companions have reportedly been releasing reports about Beneco operations allegedly basing from announcements made by Licoben from South Drive.
MCOs are questioning “jobs” and legitimacy of Mayo and Rafael.
They said on Facebook both and four Beneco directors who sided with them should not use Beneco money to pay their salaries or use these for expenses as these are owned by MCOs.
Mayo was declared persona non grata by the Baguio City Council and Benguet Sangguniang Panlalawigan over the Beneco mess
The Benguet SP also declared Rafael PNG.
The Beneco board of directors is composed of board president lawyer Esteban Somngi, Mike W. Maspil, Peter Bosaing, Josephine Tuling, Fr. Jonathan C. Obar, Robert L. Valentin and Jeffred Acop.
“Dismissed” during a general membership meeting by member-consumer-owners were directors Luke Gomeyac, Enrique Moresto, James Aclopen and Rocky Aliping for siding with NEA appointees.
Beneco general manager Melchor Licoben and the power cooperative’s board of directors aired this appeal after appointees of the National Electrification Agency reportedly convinced some banks they were the “legitimate” signatories of the Beneco accounts.
Banks which “froze” Beneco accounts included Development Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), LandBank, Rang-ay and MetroBank.
The Philippine National Bank Branch here along Session Road reportedly released a total of P2.6 million to the NEA appointees including a Beneco director who was kicked out of office during a recent general assembly of member-consumer-owners for having sided, along with three other Beneco directors, with NEA appointees.
Licoben had issued directives urging power consumers to pay directly at Beneco offices like at their main office in South Drive, sub-offices at Maharlika, Bonuan, km 4 in La Trinidad, Buguias and collection centers in Benguet towns.
Beneco officials said the power cooperative needed funds to pay power suppliers like the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines considering said banks froze accounts.
NEA appointees included lawyer Ana Marie Rafael, former Assistant Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office who is insisting she is the legitimate Beneco general manager claiming she was appointed by the NEA board of administrators and lawyer Omar Mayo, who was designated Beneco project supervisor by NEA.
Beneco member-consumer-owners said the NEA cannot appoint GMs of electric cooperatives basing from NEA rules itself.
They said only board of directors of electric cooperatives like Beneco can appoint their GM.
The Beneco had filed a case with the Court of Appeals regarding the issue but the court has yet to issue a ruling.
The Beneco controversy, which pitted people and institutions against each other may take some weeks after the May elections next year to be resolved when President Duterte is out of office, party-list sources like Philreca said.
Reports said government and power brokers in the industry were out to totally control management of electric cooperatives like Beneco and privatize these before the President’s term will end.
Rafael is reportedly now holding office at a hotel called Lafayette along military Cutoff after MCOs criticized YMCA management for letting Rafael and her group hold office at the Christian facility with rent of P5,000 a day.
It was here where a prosecutor was allegedly seen having a meal with companions.
Cases filed by Beneco against government appointees and minions were later reportedly dismissed.
This, as Licoben, who was appointed by the Beneco Board as GM holds office at the electric cooperative’s main office here in South Drive.
He had been directing its daily operations after that 2-day takeover by Mayo who was designated project supervisor of Beneco by the NEA.
Licoben resumed work at the Beneco main headquarters after it was retaken by MCOs and Beneco employees.
Since then, Mayo, Rafael and their companions have reportedly been releasing reports about Beneco operations allegedly basing from announcements made by Licoben from South Drive.
MCOs are questioning “jobs” and legitimacy of Mayo and Rafael.
They said on Facebook both and four Beneco directors who sided with them should not use Beneco money to pay their salaries or use these for expenses as these are owned by MCOs.
Mayo was declared persona non grata by the Baguio City Council and Benguet Sangguniang Panlalawigan over the Beneco mess
The Benguet SP also declared Rafael PNG.
The Beneco board of directors is composed of board president lawyer Esteban Somngi, Mike W. Maspil, Peter Bosaing, Josephine Tuling, Fr. Jonathan C. Obar, Robert L. Valentin and Jeffred Acop.
“Dismissed” during a general membership meeting by member-consumer-owners were directors Luke Gomeyac, Enrique Moresto, James Aclopen and Rocky Aliping for siding with NEA appointees.
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