Monday, February 05, 2007 Comelec warns power firm for pushing board elections By Victor L. Camion
THE Commission on Elections in Negros Oriental warned the Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative (Noreco 2) for pushing the scheduled elections of the board of directors.
Provincial Election Supervisor Manuel Advincula said officials of the power firm might face charges in court if they insist on holding the elections.
Comelec Resolution 7814 dated January 25, 2007 ordered all local electric cooperatives, which have scheduled elections of their respective board of directors during the May 14, 2007 election period, to defer the same until after June 13, 2007.
Election period for local officials will end on June 13, 2007, according to the Comelec Resolution signed by Chairman Benjamin Abalos, and Commissioners Resurreccion Borra, Florentino Tuason, Jr. Romeo Brawner, Rene Sarmento and Nicodemo Ferrer.
Quoting the Comelec resolution, Advincula stressed the election of the board of directors of electric cooperatives may become politicized and generate controversies that will be carried over to the national and local elections and ultimately disrupt the delivery of power services during the critical period of the May 14, 2007 election.
Advincula added that the administrator of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), cognizant of the forgoing circumstances, has issued a memorandum directing all electric cooperatives to defer the elections of their board of directors scheduled during the election period to other dates outside of the period.
The election officer also explained that under the Comelec resolution dated October 26, 2006, NEA and all local electric cooperatives are deputized in order to ensure the uninterrupted electric power supply during the critical days of the May elections.
But Noreco 2 information officer Stephen Salgado maintained that the elections for the board of directors of the Noreco 2 will push through.
He emphasized that election of the board of directors in the cooperative is not under the NEA.
Salgado explained that Noreco 2's internal affairs, which handled the elections, is under the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).
CDA national office, he said, has given the go signal for the election.
He said Noreco 2 Institutional Service division manager Leovigildo Elmaco has sent his quarry to the CDA national office for an official stand.
CDA national office has sent its reply just last week, Salgado said, giving the go signal for the elections.
He, however, admitted that Noreco 2 top official has yet to receive the copy of the Comelec resolution dated January 25, 2007.
