Lanao Sur execs ask Ombudsman to suspend power coop, NEA officials

MANILA, Philippines - Leaders of Lanao del Sur's local government on Friday asked Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to place ‎the general manager of the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative (Lasureco)  and two senior officials of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) under preventive suspension while facing their plunder complaint.

Bayan Balt, a lawyer of one of the local government complainants, expressed fear that respondents Administrator Lasureco General Manager Ashary Maongco, NEA Administrator Edita S. Bueno, and auditor Digno Tumbokon  might attempt to influence the on-going investigation if they remain in their positions.

"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 Morales to order their preventive suspension," Balt pointed out.

Balt, representing the complainant, filed last week a plunder complaint against Maongco, Bueno and Tumbokon in connection with the cooperative’s alleged unexplained accumulation of P6.2-billion debts and sustenance of appointed board of directors.

In the complaint, the Lanao del Sur's local officials 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 alleged that the money was not remitted to the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corp. and the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.

Balt said the complaint was personally filed before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) 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.

Balt also urged the Ombudsman to resolve the plunder complaint against the respondents with dispatch, stressing Lanao del Sur is facing a major power crisis with the continued stay of the 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," Balt said, adding that the problem was triggered by supposed mismanagement in Lasureco.

The lawyer questioned 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 is seriously affecting the delivery of basic services and jeopardizing economic growth in the province.

‎"The people have been suffering from this serious problem because the delivery of basic services is being derailed by the power crisis. We should not deprive them of economic growth," said Balt.