Sunday, March 16, 2008 Lagarde told to look into board's transactions
BACOLOR -- A Pampanga Electric Cooperative (Pelco) 2 insider has urged General Manager Sulpicio Lagarde to look into the possible irregularities in the transaction made by the Board of Directors (BOD) that may have disadvantaged the consumers of the cooperative.
The BOD earlier suspended Lagarde for various charges and alleged anomalies. The National Electrification Administration (NEA) reinstated him recently through a "back to work" order.
But even before the embattled general manager could re-assume his post, the BOD terminated his service.
The insider's statements came after Lagarde wrote a letter to BOD president Antonio Decena that he would look into transactions and other actions that may have disadvantaged consumers while he was incommunicado by the Pelco 2 board.
"Now that NEA has vindicated him, it is high time that he expose those people that have been clinging to power inside the cooperative. He may not be involved in corruption but certainly he knows a lot," the source said, who added that the issues on the alleged bidding of a cooperative property here, the almost 30 refundable unbundled rates on consumers, and the memorandum of agreement (MOA) bereft of public consultation leasing eastern Porac to another power service provider, would surely make heads roll.
The source said consumers in the towns serviced by the cooperative would surely rally behind Lagarde.
"The management of Pelco 2 should learn from what happened with Pelco 3 recently. The people here are dissatisfied and, for sure, people would not hesitate to speak out," the insider said.
The source added that there are political and commercial interests resting under the deepest management of the cooperative.
"This cooperative still has the lowest rates in the province. But this has been slowly becoming a thing of the past. Lagarde should put a stop to it by becoming a whistle blower. He came close to becoming the first casualty in this war when he refused to indulge in the wishes of some powerful forces in the cooperative. It is now time to fight back," that insider added.
Lagarde is set to assume his post in the coming days, which NEA will facilitate. However, the source said Lagarde should expect resistance from top management. (IOF)
