Heads are rolling in Aklan electric coop

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The legal division manager of Aklan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Akelco) has been sacked for grave misconduct inimical to the interest of cooperative and its member-consumers. 

Akelco linemen are busy in the repair of power lines in Kalibo, Aklan

In its decision on May 19 and received by Akelco on May 25, the NEA Board of Administrator has interposed no objections on Akelco board of directors resolution and subsequently ruled over the complaints against Benjie Tocol.

The Akelco board of directors found Tocol guilty of grave misconduct for abuse of authority prejudicial to the interest of the electric cooperative and its member-consumers with accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification for reemployment in Akelco.

“The thrust of the electric cooperative is to cleanse the ranks and to set an example. No one is beholden including the Akelco board of directors. We have to protect the cooperative,” said Akelco board of directors vice president Atty. Ariel Gepty in a radio interview. 

Akelco is the sole power distributor in the province of Aklan, including Boracay Island and the northern towns of Pandan and Libertad in Antique. 

Arguably the biggest surprise was the sudden exit or voluntary resignation of Assistant General Manager for Operations Engr. Rogen delos Reyes last week before the Akelco board of directors could resolved the separate complaints against him.

The investigation of board of directors of Akelco constituting itself as an investigating committee was triggered by adverse internal audit findings.  The probe findings centered on Tocol’s connection with the Certificate of Acceptance of SCUBATECH contracted project with Akelco.

Tocol, who was then the Vice-Chairman of Akelco’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) failed to maintain the required ethical standard in his dealings with SCUBATECH before and after the contract was awarded.

Tocol was also investigated for his consistent delay of payment of electric bills for one-month or two months and his very low kilowatt-per-hour usage.

Tocol claimed during an investigation on April 17 that “the low electric power usage was due to the fact that he has two electric meters in his place and his financial constraint caused him to pay his electric power bills late.”

“It is the policy that all its members-consumers shall pay their monthly electric bills as it falls due. The collection efficiency of the cooperative is the heart and soul of the cooperative to maintain its good standing. However, Tocol an officer of the cooperative was expected to be the role model to its members-consumers has failed to exercise this kind of virtue,” the issued board resolution said.

The acts and Tocol’s position in Akelco have influence his co-workers or the employees of the service contractor of the cooperative not to disconnect his electric services, the Akelco board further noted. 

“This is bad precedent and the board will not want to tolerate this kind of attitude and/or excuses otherwise this kind of privilege should be extended to all members-consumers and ultimately this cooperative is doomed to its destruction if delayed payments will be tolerated,” the resolution stressed.

Tocol was also made to answer the allegation on the deployment of additional security guards last January without prior Akelco board approval. 

Akelco has an approved contract for 42 security guards only with a security agency and it was increased to 45 security guards at the order of Tocol.

“Tocol’s unilateral action without prior board approval constitutes conduct prejudicial to the interest of the cooperative and abuse of authority,” the Akelco board said. 

NO AXE

At the same time, five employees of Akelco also evaded the axe of the cooperative’s board of directors. 

Administrative cases against four Akelco employees for simple misconduct, among others, allowing Akelco’s vehicle to be used by the contractor in hauling and transporting materials for the Sitio Electrification Program / Barangay Line Enhancement Program SEP/BLEP project, signing in advance the certificate of acceptance and completion before the audit inspection  and submission of the alleged forged canvass sheet - were all dismissed for insufficient evidences. 

One employee, however, was reprimanded with stern warning for failure to conduct actual inspection of the SCUBATECH repairs of cooperative submarine cable.