MOUNTAIN PROVINCE, Philippines – A group of member-consumer-owners (MCOs) urged new National Electrification Administration (NEA) chief Antonio Mariano Almeda to resolve the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) leadership debacle and pursue appropriate actions against those responsible for the problem.

“We look forward to a better relationship with the NEA under the new administration,” Electric Cooperative MCO United said in a statement on November 23, referring to the exit of Emmanuel Juaneza as NEA Administrator.

Almeda took over as the new NEA administrator on November 21, replacing Juaneza, an appointee of the Duterte administration and whose term was extended in August by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

EC-MCO United asked Almeda to rescind the NEA order naming Ana Maria Rafael as the NEA-designated Beneco general manager. The group also requested a complete audit of the P58.6 million Sitio Electrification Fund under Rafael’s control

The group also urged the new administrator “to hold to account those responsible for the problems and damages BENECO suffered” from the leadership dispute, including those involved in the takeover of the cooperative’s Baguio headquarters.

The struggle for Beneco’s general manager seat became a central issue under Juaneza’s watch.

The NEA Board of Administrators appointed Rafael, a lawyer and former Malacñang communication official, in July 2021. The following month, most Beneco directors rejected her designation and affirmed the earlier designation of long-time employee and engineer Melchor Licoben to head the cooperative.

In a November 23 text message, Licoben expressed optimism that the change in NEA leadership will also usher an end to the issue.

“We are very positive that the new administrator will be able to resolve the Beneco issue,” he said.

The Beneco leadership row reached its apex and captured public attention when NEA forcibly took control of the Beneco headquarters with backing from fully armed personnel of the Cordillera regional police early dawn of October 18, 2021. A local “people power” led by MCOs and employees took back Beneco two days later.

Following the incident, NEA lawyer Omar Mayo, who led the armed takeover, was declared unwelcome in Baguio City and Benguet.

The controversy eventually grew into a rift between the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association and Philreca Representative Presley de Jesus over the power of NEA to appoint a general manager for electric cooperatives in the country. The incident also triggered inquiries in the House of Representatives and the Senate. – Rappler.com