Cops step into power co-op row, arrest 7 execs

TAGUM CITY—Police in the Island Garden City of Samal on Monday said at least seven people had been arrested for frustrated murder for their alleged attempt to take over the office of a rival faction in the controversy-plagued Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (Daneco).

Senior Superintendent Roland Agohob, Samal police chief, said the suspects, identified with the Daneco-Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) faction, stormed the Daneco office manned by a faction identified with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) in Barangay Villarica past 2 a.m. on Monday.

The guard posted at the Daneco-NEA office was wounded when the suspects fired guns, he said.

Agohob said by phone that the seven suspects arrived at the office in several vehicles, including motorcycles, and tried to take over the office.

Agohob said the suspects were led by Gil Florenosos, former chief of the Daneco-Samal office.

But Aurelio Cortado III, lawyer for the suspects, said there was no attempted takeover.

Cortado said the six men were repairing a transformer when they were arrested. A seventh worker, boom truck driver Ronald Villabrille, was taken in for questioning.

“They were just invited but ended up being detained and slapped with frustrated murder charges,” said Cortado. The seven workers have posted bail.

Samal Mayor Aniano Antalan told a local TV station on Tuesday that his office had indeed asked the arrested Daneco workers to repair a busted transformer. Frinston L. Lim, Inquirer Mindanao