Ombudsman case filed vs. Aklan electric coop officials

Akelco officials are facing an Ombudsman complaint in connection with the purchase of boom truck in 2012 / PHOTO AKLAN FORUM

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Officials of Aklan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Akelco) and a general manager of Iloilo electric cooperative have been accused in connection with the  multi-million boom truck purchased in 2012.

In their 13-page complaint filed on June 24, Erico Bucoy, Rummel Refendor and Rosielie Tarantan accused the board of directors of Akelco, former Akelco manager Chito Peralta, former member of National Electrification Administration (NEA) Board of Administrators Wilfred Billena and his son Joseph Wilfred Billena before the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas.

The Akelco board of directors in the complaint are Wayne Malilay, Ariel Gepty, Celso Tajanlangit, Norma Salido, Haydeen Bandiola, Rodrigo Quimpo, Herbert Retonio, Norberto Lachica, Democrito Barrientos and Samuel Remegia, Jr. 

Bucoy, presently staying in Talisay City, Cebu, is the co-convenor of No to Excessive Authority-Alliance of Dissatisfied Consumers Movement (NEA-ADCOM). Two other complainants are residents of Kalibo and Numancia, Aklan. 

The respondents are facing alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019), New Procurement Law (Republic Act No. 9184), Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713) and National Electrification Administration Reform Act of 2013 (Republic Act No. 10531).

The complainants claimed that the P2.8 million Used Bugget Truck (1993 Freightliner FL-108 6x4, Hydraulic Digger) purchased by Akelco on September 30, 2012 from Kandiyohi Power Cooperative as supplier/vendor and JWLB Electric Trading owned by Joseph Wilfred Billena as intermediate consignee was overpriced.

They said the purchase was overpriced by at least P1.5-million or even more. The overprice, the complainants said, is apparent when compared with advertised prices of similar used or advanced model trucks in the market, which ranged from P354,000 to P1.314-million only.

On top of this, the complainants also lamented the failure of Akelco to conduct competitive or public bidding for contracts amounting to P1-million and above, thus, it violated RA 9184 and the NEA bidding procedures for electric cooperatives. 

The negotiated purchase of the boom truck for maintenance use was approved by Akelco board of directors on August 2, 2012 authorizing then general manager Chito Peralta to sign documents. 

They also cited the “highly irregular” findings in the comprehensive operations audit of Akelco from April 1, 2009 to September 30, 2013 regarding the purchase of boom truck.

“Clearly it was an overpriced purchase, grossly advantageous to Akelco and in violation of the NEA and Akelco Procurement Policies and Presidential Decree No. 1689,” the complaint-affidavit stated.   

The complainants said Wilfred Billena, also the general manager of Iloilo Electric Cooperative I, Inc. (ILECO I) and member of NEA Board of Administrators during the period of boom truck purchase transactions, should be held liable for his apparent conflict of interest. 

“Billena was a public officer discharging administrative and official functions… he acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith and gross inexcusable negligence…in particular, influencing the Akelco board of directors in authorizing a negotiated procurement which was sold by the same cooperative and trading company he has influence and owned by his son,” the complaint-affidavit stated.

The complainants said Billena had great influence over Akelco, the buyer of the truck, with the younger Billena as registered owner of JWLB Electric Trading, being the president of Philippine Rural Electric Cooperative Association (PHILRECA) and president of West Visayas Electric Cooperative Association (WEVECA).

In their complaint, the complainants sought for the preventive suspension of the accused officials so as not to influence or pressure the witnesses involved in the investigation.