NEA suspends officials of Benguet Electric Coop
By Myrna M. Velasco – January 2, 2022, 10:10 PM
from Manila Bulletin
The board of administrators of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) has enforced 90-day suspension to the board of directors as well as officials of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) allegedly due to their excessive benefits and allowances that they have been refusing to return to the coffers of the power utility.
In a statement to the media, NEA indicated that the findings which became the ground for the suspension of BENECO’s board and management officials, stemmed from the motu propio investigation that the government-run electrification agency had undertaken.
“The notice of decision was personally served at the BENECO office last December 23, 2021,” NEA emphasized, adding that copies of the suspension notices had also been served via electronic mail to the internal auditor, institutional services manager as well as the administrative officer of the EC because they were also covered by the verdict.
“They (BENECO board and officials) are meted the penalty of suspension for a period of 90 days. They are consequently ordered to return the computed excess funds they have granted to themselves,” NEA said.
The electrification agency further noted that “the respondents are directed to show proof of payment and/or return of the aforementioned amounts within 10 days.”
NEA said the ruling of its board of administrators (BOA) “pertains to the audit findings wherein the respondents were meted administrative penalties of suspension, as well as the order for them to return the excess amounts they earlier received in violation of NEA policies and guidelines.”
The probe on the questioned compensation and benefits of BENECO board and officials covered the periods from June 1, 2014 to December 31, 2017, according to the government-run agency.
NEA conveyed that “the EC board and management’s response failed to justify some of the audit observations — especially excessive benefits and allowances they extended to themselves.”
The agency similarly stated that the respondents were warranted opportunity “to file their responses on the alleged violations,” and to determine if they shall be held administratively liable for charges, a clarificatory hearing was also slated last February 3, 2021.
According to NEA, there had been “continuous defiance of NEA guidelines on the payment of meeting per diems,” adding that during the clarificatory hearing, “their hollow excuses were revealed to be betrayed by certain facts.”
The agency emphasized that in its board’s handing down of a verdict, it considered an earlier death of an officer and the resignation of another one; while “for the remaining respondents, NEA BOA generally found each charge as substantially proven, thus, the imposition of penalties.”
