NEA penalizes 5 execs of power coop in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines  â€“ The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has ordered five directors of the Leyte Electric Cooperative II (Leyeco II) here to pay the fine of P 23,100 each after finding them guilty of two counts of simple misconduct.

NEA also ordered the Leyeco II management to “ensure collection of” P 141,054.67 from its retired manager, lawyer Jerry Gwen Conde “including but not limited to the filing of a civil action in the proper court.”

The NEA’s decision was based on an administrative complaint filed by the officers of the National Association of Electricity Consumers Inc. (NASECORE)-Tacloban chapter, accusing Conde of continuing to receive his salaries and benefits long after his retirement and that the board of directors allegedly condoned it.

Conde was given a P3.73-million retirement package using “18 years” as multiplier even if the NEA-approved multiplier was only for “17.3 years.” This resulted in a difference of P141,054.67 that NEA ordered the coop management to recover from Conde.

The penalized five directors of Leyeco II were Rolando Hidalgo, Reynaldo Galapon, Gregorio Dolina, Feliciano. Elizon, Jr. and Alan Surpia, who NEA also warned “that repetition of a similar offense shall be dealt with more severely.”

The order was handed down by the NEA administrative committee consisting of Josefina Patricia Asirit, alternative member of NEA chairman and Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, who was formerly Leyte governor, and members Jose Victor Lobrigo, Wilfred Billena, Joseph Khonghun and NEA administrator Edita Bueno.

The NEA’s decision further stated that, after explaining the facts of the case and the defenses of the respondents, the committee observed that “it puzzles” them why despite knowing of the NEA’s approval of Conde’s early retirement, the board allowed him to continue serving as manager.  (FREEMAN)