BACOLOD City – “Not [giving] much attention” to a case proved detrimental to the general manager of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco).
A court has found Sulpicio Lagarde Jr. and two former Ceneco officials guilty of falsification, sentencing them to a minimum prison term of three years and slapping them with a P5,000 fine each.
Lagarde – who will turn 60 on Sept. 8 and is set to retire – said he will file a motion for reconsideration.
“This is a nine-year-old case. I have to admit I did not give it much attention then because I believe indi ini salapakon nga kaso (it does not deserve any),” he said.
Judge Remegio Rojo of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 5 released the verdict.
Convicted alongside Lagarde were Ceneco’s former president Edward Gasambelo and former vice president and secretary Luis Cuenca.
Lawyer Enrique Tabino, a former Ceneco board member and acting general manager, filed the charges against the three.
Tabino accused them of acting “in conspiracy” to falsify Ceneco Board Resolution No. 8560-A, series of 2009 “for the purpose of applying for a provisional rate increase with the Energy Regulation Commission.”
Conspiracy is a collegial offense, Lagarde pointed out. He wondered why he was accused of such when he was not taking part in Board decisions.
“It’s as if I am taking part in the decision of the Board in passing a resolution, as if I have the power to vote, to pass a resolution or disapprove a resolution. I do not have that power,” Lagarde said.
The two Board members who moved for the approval of the resolution and the one who seconded it have not been charged, he said. “Why was it (case) selective?”
Lagarde denied the accusation that they “falsified for the purpose of increasing the (power) rate.”
“We will submit documents for the judge to take a second look,” he said, expressing confidence that the verdict will be reversed.
Lagarde assured that his decision will not affect Ceneco services. He stressed that he will personally pay for his lawyer.
The power utility general manager claimed Tabino was just trying to get “media mileage.”/PN
