Suspend coop, NEA officials in plunder raps

MANILA, Philippines – Local leaders of Lanao del Sur are calling on the Ombudsman to place ‎ officials  of Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative (Lasureco) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) facing plunder complaint under preventive suspension.

‎Atty. Bayan Balt, lawyer of one of the complainants, expressed fears that respondents Lasureco General Manager Ashary Maongco, NEA Administrator Edita Bueno, and auditor Digno Tumbokon might attempt to influence the on-going investigation if they would not be suspended.

The three are facing plunder case in connection with the cooperative’s alleged unexplained accumulation of P6.2-billion debts and sustenance of appointed – not elected – board of directors.

The complaint was filed last week at the Office of the Ombudsman by 27 mayors on behalf of the 32 out of 39 towns in Lanao del Sur, whose electric connections were allegedly cut-off arbitrarily for almost two years now.

“They should not be given the chance to take advantage of their positions because we fear they might try to influence the outcome of the investigation. We strongly urge Ombudsman (Conchita Carpio) Morales to order their preventive suspension,” Balt said in a statement on Friday.

In the complaint, the complainants accused Maongco of “questionable disbursements” of some P190-million in barangay electrification funds, P25-million pantawid kuryente and P603-million power bills that were collected from consumers from 2007 to 2012.

They said the money was not allegedly remitted to the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

‎Balt also urged the Ombudsman to resolve the plunder complaint against the respondents with dispatch, saying Lanao del Sur is facing a “major power crisis” with the continued stay of present Lasureco and NEA officials.

“We appeal for compassion and greater good of many people residing in Lanao del Sur who are in total darkness after their power supply was cut off,” the lawyer said, adding that the problem was triggered by supposed mismanagement in Lasureco.

Balt specifically pointed to Lasureco’s alleged anomalous scheme of supplying electricity without calibration meters.

“I hope our concerned government officials will seriously look into this problem,‎” he said.

The lawyer also lamented that the power crisis was seriously affecting the delivery of basic services and jeopardizing economic growth in the province.