An "ill-motivated" move carried out by a "sinister clique" - that is what a group of consumers supporting Central Negros Electric Cooperative president, Eddie Guillem, called the suspension of Guillem and four other CENECO officials

The Concerned CENECO Consumers, led by convenor Germale Federico, in their statement of support issued yesterday, said that "the sinister clique is operating within and outside CENECO and conspiring with some National Electrification Administration officials whose ultimate aim is to control (CENECO) for their narrow economic and political ends."

The group, however, did not name those in this "sinister clique." Federico signed the statement with four other convenors, Luis Ejida, Natividad Malunes, Neneng Remo, and Mark Lester Abancio. Attached to it are photocopied sheets with the signatures of about 450 Guillem supporters from various barangays in Bacolod City.

They issued the statement after four out of the five remaining CENECO directors elected on Tuesday Roberto Montelibano, who represents Murcia District, as interim president.

The board is composed of nine members.

Guilllem, board vice president Jobert Tagobader, secretary Gregorio Duremdes, treasurer Gerardo Solas and OIC-manager engineer Noriel Bermudez were preventively suspended for 30 days by the NEA Board on February 22 pending the resolution of the administrative charges they are facing before NEA.

"But why were not all directors suspended?" Federico asked in an interview with the DAILY STAR, claiming that the alleged violations had the mandate of the entire CENECO Board.

Their statement said: "NEA (had) without regard to CENECO's due process and the merit of the cause they (the officials) have fought to transform CENECO into what it is now, a quality power service utility organization."

NEA is "unjust, partial and biased," they added.

The group also claimed that three of the officials not suspended had reportedly been meeting with a "sinister clique" and with NEA people, and questioned the other members of the board for being silent and indifferent and "even justifying and supporting all the assaults on the suspended officials", and warned them against "their continued machinations and instigating divisions within CENECO."

They also called on the CENECO member-consumers to join hands with them in voicing out their sentiments and defending the cooperative from manipulation, dictates and control of any group with vested interest.*NLG

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