THE National Electrification Administration (NEA) has dismissed the case filed against Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) officials due to some technicalities in the complaints.
In a decision dated May 8, NEA claimed only nine out of 12 complainants from the National Association of Electricity Consumer for Reform (Nasecore) signed the needed certification and verification of non-forum shopping in the administrative case they filed against Beneco officials including board of directors and general manager Gerardo Verzosa.
Despite being a requisite for notarial practice, the NEA also noted complainants in the administrative case failed to present government issued IDs.
Beneco even sought for an extension to file its response to the NEA complaint in June 3.
The complainants may still file the case against Beneco officials once they comply with requirements on certification of notarization and non-forum shopping.
A director of the public utility has lodged a separate case against the complainants for damages at the Baguio Regional Trial Court (BRTC) last May 7.
Among those charged were Nasecore members Catalino Panganiban, Reynaldo Suello, Bartolome Sacla, Federico Balanag, Placido Abuan, Tolentino Opiniano, Mensita Daoslog, Tranquilino Ramos, Crispin Buli-e, Marcela Abela, Ruperto Ferrer Jr., and Bial Palaez.
District 1 director Michael Lawana is seeking P1.68 million in moral and exemplary damages including attorney's fees from the court against the Nasecore and Beneco officers for associating him in the case the group earlier filed against Beneco officials in March.
Lawana claimed the allegations in the administrative complaint happened before his assumption into office and it should have been his predecessor implicated in the case.
"The respondents in their verification and certification asserted that the contents of their complaint are true to the best of their knowledge, however, they did not verify the facts such that they have wrongfully included me as one of the respondents in the administrative case," he said in the complaint.
"Due to the malicious and wrongful acts of the herein respondents in not ascertaining and verifying the facts, the complainant being a new member of the Beneco Board of Directors is now made to answer the alleged acts in which he did never participate," the complaint added.
Last March 22, Nasecore and Baelco officials charged Beneco officers and board members Gerardo Verzosa, Delmar CariƱo, Randy Carolino, Merlie Landocan, Benny Bomogao, Rocky Aliping, Ferdy Bayasen, Peter usaing, Virgilio Orca Jr., Joey Marrero, Jerry marave, Alfredo Santos Jr., Erminio Suclad and Gaspar leung for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, conduct prejudicial to the interest of the electric cooperative and member consumers.
Then complainants charged Beneco officials for allegedly purchasing materials for the energization project in Balbalan, Kalinga; purchase of a printing press and printing materials, the illegal and exorbitant purchase of the South Drive and Camp 7 properties; non-compliance with NEA directives on district contingency fund, allowances and per diems; award of feasibility studies to a favored contractor without any bidding; and the exorbitant fees and granting of personal loan to lawyer Emiliano Gayo using Beneco's credit line with a bank even if he's not an employee of the power utility.
Earlier general manager Verzosa and Board president Peter Busaing defended Beneco claiming they will answer all allegations hurled against them by the Nasecore and select Baelco officials in the courts. (JM Agreda)