BACOLOD City – The National Electrification Administration (NEA) served a 90-day preventive suspension order to Engr. Ray Bustamante, the general manager of the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO).
The order, dated Oct. 23, 2023, was delivered in person to Bustamante’s office at the NOCECO main building in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental by NEA administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda.
Almeda said Bustamante’s appointment as general manager of NOCECO disregarded NEA Memorandum No. 2017-035 from Oct. 24, 2017, known as the “Revised Policy on the Selection, Hiring, Termination of Service, or Suspension of General Managers of Electric Cooperatives (3rd Revision)”.
He gave Bustamante 10 days from the receipt of the suspension order to provide a written explanation as to why he shouldn’t face further administrative action.
Republic Act No. 10531 gives NEA supervisory powers over electric cooperatives, granting them the authority to enact preventive or disciplinary actions against cooperative officers as deemed appropriate.
The intention behind Bustamante’s suspension, Almeda explained, is to preclude him from potentially leveraging his authority to influence witnesses or modify crucial records, and to prevent any further misconduct.
While efforts were made by Panay News to get a statement from Bustamante, there was no response at the time of reporting.
Tension
Delivering the suspension order was not without challenges. NEA representatives, accompanied by Negros Occidental vice governor Jeffrey Ferrer, were initially denied entry into the NOCECO compound.
Ferrer had to assert to the security guards that they had the right to enter during office hours, as the electric cooperative is a public entity.
In the end, they resorted to using a vault cutter to access the premises.
Acting General Manager
Following the suspension of Bustamante, Engr. Domingo Santiago Jr. has been designated as the acting head of NOCECO for a span of six months or until a permanent general manager is appointed, whichever occurs first.
Almeda expressed confidence in Santiago, citing his prior experience as the general manager of several other electric cooperatives across the nation, especially under similar circumstances.
Santiago’s responsibilities now include overseeing NOCECO’s daily operations, ensuring efficient electricity delivery to its member-consumer-owners.
Additionally, after consulting with relevant NEA departments, Santiago has the authority to approve or reject cooperative board resolutions. If necessary, he can also assume the role of the Board of Directors in their absence./PN
