NEA probers untangle bribery yarn, Artech-Ileco 3 deal
After weeks of continued media fray over alleged bribery and other controversies surrounding a local multi-million power supply agreement, investigators were sent here by the National Electrification Administration (NEA).
Led by NEA lawyer Omar Mayo, the order from NEA higher-ups was clear – get to the bottom of the mess involving Iloilo Electric Cooperative (Ileco) 3 and power supplier Applied Research Technology (Artech).
The four-day investigation folded up Friday with Mayo backed up by senior internal auditors of the NEA.
In an interview, Mayo told The News Today (TNT) “everything is raw at the moment” yet one thing is clear -- results will be out in two weeks.
“NEA is not sleeping on the job. We are here upon request of Ileco 3 and so we want the public to know that we are doing our mandate... we will finish this investigation,” Mayo assured amidst questions raised by the Artech on NEA probe team’s arrival.
Among the evidences submitted before the NEA probe body was the Manifesto of Ileco 3 employees.
Further submitted was the Affidavit of Rene Arandilla, Ileco 3 member of the Board.
Arandilla in a two-paged sworn statement stood by initial public disclosures confirming involvement of Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas Sr. in the fray.
Arandilla said he was personally told by Board President Retired Judge Mateo Baldoza about the P75,000 handed by the governor inside the governor’s house in April. The Artech deal was apparently the agenda in that meeting with Tupas.
Days later came yet another follow-up in a local hotel where another P75,000 was given in an envelope. It was to be the “additional,” he was told.
“I inquired what it was and he (referring to Baldoza) told me that it must probably be money given by a lady wearing black and out of curiosity and with his consent, I counted the money inside the envelope and determined to be containing Seventy Five Thousand pesos (PhP 75,000) allegedly coming from Artech. President Baldoza told me to get Ten Thousand pesos…,” excerpts of Arandilla’s statement went.
To note, Arandilla is among those against the Artech deal given what he said were disadvantageous terms.
Mayo begged off when pressed for specifics on the NEA investigation as he stressed that it was designed to be a “fact-finding.” Expected to be acted by NEA Administrator Edita Bueno would be the fact-finding team’s recommendations relative to the Artech deal.
Administrator Bueno got the official word on the ILECO 3 controversy following a letter sent by ILECO 3 Officer-in-Charge, Assistant General Manager Ana Maria Bagsit and Dory Jane Canones, Finance Services Department Manager.
“For the past months, we have communicated to NEA our sentiments against the actions of the majority of the members of the board. Their vindictiveness, encroachment on otherwise purely management prerogatives and high-handed ways in dealing with coop employees who are perceived to be against them are deplorable and unprecedented,” the letter went. “To top it all, they sold the cooperative and its member-consumers in what is now a bribery issue carried by the local tri-media… Please help us to find justice for Ileco III.”