Gatchalian to NEA: Status quo on Beneco tiff; Senate probe on

BAGUIO CITY -- SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian urged the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to observe status quo in operations of Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) under the leadership of its board-appointed general manager.
    "We've known Beneco as a perfectly managed cooperative. My only interest being your chairman of the Senate Energy Committee is the stability and reliability of power supply in Baguio and the whole Benguet province," Gatchalian said in a recent consultative meeting with Beneco officials in this summer capital.
    "I'll bring your request for a status quo of the situation. That's the best for now," he added, while assuring the conduct of a Senate probe into the issue confronting Beneco and NEA stemming from the leadership row in the electric utility.
    Gatchalian earlier filed a resolution in the Senate calling for a full-blown inquiry into the management standoff between NEA and Beneco following reports that the electric distribution utility has been experiencing problems in bank transactions as some accredited banks do not acknowledge the signature of engineer Melchor Licoben, the general manager endorsed by the Beneco board.
    "My basic principle is that the locals will always know best and the boards, whether it's a cooperative board or Sangguniang board, they're empowered to choose the best people for themselves. Huwag na dapat makialam 'yung tagalabas dahil magugulo lalo eh. Hindi naman nila alam yung patakbo ng mga kooperatiba (Outsiders should not interfere because this will only exacerbate the problem since they are not in the know on the operations of the cooperatives)," Gatchalian said.
    A string of cases had been filed before the courts including graft charges against the NEA board of administrators for endorsing former Presidential Communications Assistant secretary, lawyer Ana Marie Rafael, to the Beneco board of directors as new general manager instead of Licoben.
    "Habang nakabinbin ang mga kaso, hinihiling natin sa bawat panig na huwag gumawa ng mga hakbang na makakaapekto sa pagbibigay serbisyo sa mga konsyumer kagaya ng kung sino ang dapat kilalanin na maningil ng kanilang electric bills. Naaantala rin ang pagbabayad sa power suppliers ng Beneco dahil sa ilang problema sa transaksyon sa bangko (While the case is pending court, we are asking both sides not to make any step that will affect the provision of service to the consumers such as who should be the authorized to collect payment for their electric bills. Payment to power suppliers of Beneco are being delayed due to some problems in the transaction with the banks)," the senator said."Ang mga ganitong mga kaganapan ay maaaring magbunsod ng pagkagambala sa operasyon ng Beneco at ang mga konsyumer ang magdurusa. Hindi dapat maipit sa usapin ang publiko (This kind of activities may hamper the operations of Beneco to the detriment of the consumers. The public should not be trapped in this issue)."
    Beneco officials have urged power users to pay directly at their offices and outlets after some banks recently froze Beneco accounts owing to the management tiff.
    Licoben and the power cooperative’s board of directors aired this appeal after NEA appointees 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 Rafael 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.
Rafael is reportedly now holding office at a hotel called Lafayette along military Cutoff.
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 at the prosecutor’s office.         
    This, as Licoben 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.
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.