NEA suspends 6 directors of Central Negros Electric Coop

BACOLOD CITY—The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has suspended six directors of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) board and its former acting general manager for 30 days after finding them guilty of simple neglect of duty.

Suspended were CENECO board chairperson Jojit Yap and members Martha Joyce Cuenca, Ernie Larida, Antonio Panique, and Eugene Velasco, according to Wennie Sancho, Power Watch secretary general, on Tuesday, July 12.

Also named in the suspension order were former CENECO board member Robert J. Javellana and NEA project supervisor/acting general manager Danny L. Pondevilla.

Pondevilla, who is no longer with CENECO, is the general manager of Northern Negros Electric Cooperative Inc.

The NEA decision stemmed from a complaint filed by Sancho against the seven respondents for grave misconduct, gross neglect, dishonesty, gross insubordination, and conduct prejudicial to the interest of the electric cooperative in connection with the one-year extension of CENECO’s power sales contract with KEPCO SPC Power Corp.

Sancho said they approved a one-year extension contract for KSPC’s 20-mw base load supply that was priced at a higher rate than a previous offer.

NEA, in its decision, dismissed the charges for grave misconduct, gross neglect, dishonesty, gross insubordination, and conduct prejudicial to the interest of the electric cooperative, but cited the seven for simple neglect of duty for failure to apply for a Certificate of Exemption from the Department of Energy before their Power Sales Extension Agreement with KSPC in 2011.

“There is no substantial evidence though that would show that their act of entering into an extension agreement has been extended by bad faith or fraudulent intent,” the NEA ruled.

It said simple neglect warrants the penalty of a 30-day suspension from office without pay.

Sancho, in a press conference, said the NEA decision is a victory for the CENECO consumers.

“Resignation would be an honorable option for you, a graceful exit from a position that you do not deserve in the first place,” was Sancho’s message to the respondents.

Yap, one of the respondents, said they would issue their response to the NEA decision.

She said the NEA decision would not affect CENECO operations.

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