Senate, CDA urged: Probe Cordillera transport coop

‘Malversation, mismanagement by president’ 

By Jordan Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY – The City council urged the Senate and the Cooperative Development Authority  to investigate the leadership and management crises currently experienced by the Cordillera Basic Sectors Transport Cooperative over allegations of mismanagement and malversation of funds by CBSTC leadership.
    The Senate was urged by the city government’s legislative body in a resolution last week to probe the issue, citing its lack of contempt power. 
    The CDA-Cordillera Administrative Region (CDA-CAR) was also asked by the council to resolve the leadership tussle along with other internal and management issues being experienced by the CBSTC.
    This, after members of CBSTC sought the help of the city council regarding the current state of their transport cooperative, accusing incumbent CBSTC chairperson Jude Wal of mismanagement and malversation. 
    The city council was informed there were now two sets of officers in the transport cooperative as a result of faction.
    CBSTC member Rolando Yambot claimed he was elected as new CBSTC chairperson during their general assembly last Jan. 14.
    Amid the escalating leadership impasse and mounting accusations against Wal, the city council summoned another forum, inviting all concerned parties to attend.
    For the third time, Wal failed to attend the council forum.
    During the forum, CDA-CAR regional director Marieta Hwang disclosed their office could not determine at the moment legitimate officers since both groups had allegedly committed violations in conduct of their respective elections.
    Hwang added her office attempted to conduct a “unified election” initially agreed to by both parties.
    But last March 6, Wal’s group informed CDA-CAR of their refusal to participate in said election.
    The matter would be referred to the CDA central office for adjudication, she said.
    With no final resolution yet by CDA on legitimate CBSTC officers, LandBank representative Julio Pagat said all withdrawals were suspended.
    He said both groups would not be honored by the bank at the moment pending resolution of the leadership crisis.
    Pagat confirmed that CBSTC under Wal’s leadership had been delayed in paying its loan amortization and that remedial measures such as restructuring and extending the term of the loan may be undertaken to avoid foreclosure.
    However, should the transport cooperative continue to fail in settling its loan obligation despite remedial measures applied, the only recourse would be foreclosure, Pagat added.