Clergy to Ombudsman: Suspend electric co-op’s execs over JVA issue

MANILA, Philippines — Two bishops from the Catholic Church have asked Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to preventively suspend members of the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (Socoteco II) Board of Directors for proposing a supposedly questionable agreement with a private firm.

In their letter to Remulla dated Sept. 8 and sent to the media on Tuesday, Diocese of Marbel Bishop Cercilo Casicas and Diocese of San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza asked Remulla to suspend the board members, as criminal and administrative charges have already been filed against them.

Socoteco II is facing scrutiny after its board pushed for a proposed joint venture agreement (JVA) with Ignite Power, with several incumbent and former lawmakers expressing concerns whether the electric cooperative’s methods in securing the authority for the JVA were proper.

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“We write to you on behalf of the clergy, faithful, and three hundred thousand Member-Consumer-Owners (MCOs) of the [Socoteco II]. Our people are currently facing a profound governance crisis regarding the controversial joint venture agreement (JVA) with Ignite Power, with the holding of a plebiscite amid grave allegations of procedural manipulation and compromised cooperative integrity,” the two bishops said.

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“Given the gravity of the criminal and administrative charges already lodged before your esteemed office against the Socoteco II Board of Directors and National Electrification Administration (NEA) officials […] we urgently call for the issuance of a preventive suspension order against the members of the Socoteco II Board of Directors implicated in the pending complaints,” they added.

‘Continuous threat to cooperative assets’

According to Casicas and Alminaza, allowing board members to remain in office while an investigation is ongoing “poses a continuous threat to cooperative assets, institutional records, and the free expression of consumer will in the presently ongoing illegitimate plebiscite.”

Furthermore, the two church leaders asked for a dialogue with Remulla to inform them of the plight of consumers within their area.

“We earnestly request a dialogue with your good office to apprise you of the plight of our consumers, whose access to affordable and reliable power is heavily compromised, and illegitimate activities from those in power eroding the space for our collective freedom of expression and right to suffrage,” they said.

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“As a shepherd of the faithful who will bear the impacts of high electricity prices and unreliable service if this JVA proposal from Ignite Power gets approved, we stand with our communities in upholding transparency, integrity, and the rule of law. We place our trust in your steadfast commitment to eradicating systemic irregularities and ensuring that public office remains a public trust,” they added.

Just this August, South Cotabato Rep. Shirlyn L. Bañas-Nograles filed a resolution asking the House of Representatives to investigate the proposed JVA between Socoteco II and Ignite Power, to determine whether the supposed arrangement complies with existing laws, rules and regulations.

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Bañas-Nograles’ resolution also seeks an assessment of whether the JVA will affect the rights and economic interests of the government and Socoteco’s MCOs.

The lawmaker based her resolution on consumer complaints about the process used by Socoteco II’s board in securing authority for the proposed JVA, with the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Marbel claiming that Resolution No. 104 was declared adopted during the cooperative’s 43rd Annual General Membership Assembly last July 25 without a duly counted vote.

SAC-Marbel also questioned the use of a standing vote without an actual count and called for the deferment of the plebiscite.

Last August 31, Socoteco II officials said that the proposed JVA remains intact despite a recent rally opposing the deal.

READ: Socoteco II-Ignite Power proposed deal unfazed despite protest

Then, on Sept. 12, it was reported that the Regional Trial Court in Polomolok, South Cotabato has granted Socoteco’s motion to lift a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the plebiscite for the proposed JVA.

READ: Court lifts restraining order vs Socoteco II–Ignite plebiscite

The court order lifted the Sept. 4 TRO, which was initially extended to Sept. 24—effectively affecting the plebiscite originally scheduled earlier this month.

The court dismissed as “speculative” the allegations of a lack of transparency in Socoteco II’s move approving the conditional joint venture agreement.

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“What plaintiff offers is a conjecture presented as violation, and an injunction will not protect a right founded on nothing more than speculative claim,” the decision read. /cb