• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The serving of a 90-day preventive suspension against Engr. Ray Bustamante, acting general manager of the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO), personally by National Electrification Administration administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda, initially started yesterday with a standoff after he was barred by security guards from entering the compound of the distribution facility in Brgy. Binicuil, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
The NOCECO compound gate was padlocked, as per an order allegedly issued by Bustamante, according to Almeda, who was accompanied by Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, who is also a member-consumer-owner (MCO) of the electric cooperative.
The padlocked gate was later opened using a bolt cutter, which paved the way for Almeda and his staff, as well as Ferrer, and others to enter the NOCECO premises, and install Engr. Domingo Santiago as the new acting general manager of the electric cooperative.
Ferrer said there was no court order not allowing them to enter the NOCECO premises, including the electric cooperative board of directors, aside from NEA officials.
During the standoff, Almeda called on NOCECO member consumers to be involved, stressing that the electric cooperative was being managed by “individuals” who think they own the distribution facility.
In a press briefing, Almeda said the appointment of Bustamante, who was nowhere to be found during the standoff at the NOCECO compound, was “illegally obtained” and not in compliance with RA 10531, and in blatant disregard to NEA memorandum No. 2017-035 dated October 24, 2017, or the Revised Policy on the Selection, Hiring, Termination of Service/Suspension for General Managers of Electric Cooperatives.
Bustamante was also given 10 days by NEA to show-cause in writing, why no administrative sanctions should be taken against him, for his assumption as general manager of the electric cooperative without strictly undergoing the procedure outlined under NEA memorandum number 2017-035.
The order is only for preventive suspension, for him to submit to NEA a reason, or a cause, for us not to penalize him administratively, Almeda said.
Bustamante was also prohibited from entering the NOCECO premises for the period of his preventive suspension, as ordered by NEA.
Until such time that we feel things have normalized, NEA, through the Board, will direct the opening of selection appointment process of a regular manager of NOCECO effective immediately, Almeda added.
As to his marching orders for Santiago, a retired manager of an electric cooperative in Rizal province, Almeda said he should maintain the operations of NOCECO on an “optimum level” and serve the interest of the electric cooperative’s member-consumers.
He also confirmed that an audit of NOCECO has already been completed, which he expects to be submitted to his office not later than November 15.
Almeda also announced that the four remaining NOCECO board members will also be placed under preventive suspension for 30 days, as he required them to submit their justification on the appointment process that led to the occupancy of Bustamante of the position as acting general manager of the electric cooperative.
Almeda also appreciates the cooperation of some NOCECO division heads, who initially took sides with Bustamante. “I do understand emotions are high. I have some little space of understanding for them,” he said.
Both Ferrer and Kabankalan City Mayor Benjie Miranda later managed to persuade NOCECO department heads to have a dialog with Almeda to iron out things, in order to not hamper the operations of the electric cooperative.*
