Cebeco-II not yet off the hook in extort yarn
Despite having been cleared of suspicion that it extorted foreign villagers of “exorbitant” fees worth P1.3 million, the Cebu Electric Cooperative II is not yet off the hook as the Cebu Provincial Board has ordered deeper investigation into the irregularity allegedly committed by the Cebeco-II regarding its power connection.
The PB committee on laws, reviews and ordinances chaired by Board Member Peter John Calderon will initiate a deeper inquiry into the issue after the PB agreed to refer the matter to the committee.
This developed after Cebeco II general manager Peter Alan Señeres attended the board’s regular session on Monday and cleared the issue that they first demanded P2 million from the Korean Retirement Village in barangay Don Virgilio, Medellin town.
Provincial legislators grilled Señeres during the session. As expected, the electric cooperative general manager vehemently denied that they extorted more than P1 million from the Korean village.
Last Nov. 12, the board lashed out at Cebeco-II for demanding “exorbitant” fees from a Korean village in exchange of power connection in the area.
It approved a resolution inviting Seneres to attend its regular session to appraise provincial legislators of the cooperative’s electrical connection policies, established rates and fees.
Board Member Jose Ma. Gastardao, one of the sponsors the resolution, said he even received similar complaint from Balamban Mayor Alex Binghay.
The mayor reportedly lamented that he was even the one who paid for the generator set and the cable connection to the electric post, which is supposed to be the obligation of the electric coop.
Likewise, Board Member Agnes Magpale revealed that she even paid about P100,000 for installation of a generator set and power lines for electrical connection in her residence.
Last Nov. 6, local officials of
Mayor Ricardo Ramirez said the power connection cost of P2 million was subsequently reduced to P1.3 million. The above fees are being asked by Cebeco from the
The power connection fee “is unreasonably high given that the cooperative is supposedly a non-stock, non-profit public entity which is mandated to distribute electricity to households in rural areas,” the resolution said.
But the board members were dismayed when Ramirez, who is supposed to be the complainant, did not attend the hearing.
Board Member Victor Maambong said it was unfair for Ramirez not to attend the hearing since he was the complainant of the alleged extortion of Cebeco.
Aniceta Pasaylo, the staff of Mayor Ramirez, called to inform the board’s secretary that her boss could not attend the hearing because he was attending to some visitors.
In almost an hour in the hot seat, Señeres was consistent in denying the extortion yarn. He also said that all the transactions were done with the approval by Cebeco’s board.
If he is to be believed, Señeres admitted asking P2 million charges for power lines, utility posts, transformers, meters, and other equipment from the Korean village. But this was later reduced to P1.3 million when the Korean nationals asked the Board to decrease the amount.
The Cebeco personnel then conducted an inspection of the village to assist the actual cost of the power installation. After the inspection, the Korean nationals again asked for another round of reduction. – Gerome M. Dalipe/LPM
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