The discombobulation in Albay power service

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 22 – This continuing story shows how in the vicinities of Albay province lurks the discombobulated goings on in the local power retail delivery and services.

On December 4, 2014, Albay Power and Energy Corporation disconnected the electric service to Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation due to outstanding electric bills, with arrears amounting to P2.2 millions.

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Mariners’ president Dante Jimenez, claimed that upon receipt of disconnection notice the bill was settled with a payment coursed thru the Aleo-reconstituted Interim Board of Directors headed by its chairman, Atty. Bartolome Rayco.

Four days later, the Mariners campus in Rawis in this city, was re-energized by employees of the “defunct” Albay Electric Cooperative, who were members of the workers union Aleco Employees Organization (Aleo).

APEC attempted to disconnect the reconnected lines but failed, but how and why they failed, is not very clear.

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Dante Jimenez is the founding chair of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption. Among the proponents to boycott electric bill payment to APEC, Jimenez has actively joined protest rallies and legal actions led by Aleo and the Aleco Multi-Sectoral Stakeholders Organization (Amsso) against APEC. Photo credit: MPCF website.

Aleo vice president Ephraim De Vera said the terminated employees have the authority to reconnect Mariner’s power because they have a “return to work order” (RTWO) from the Department of Labor issued last March 2014. Unfortunately, APEC refused to honor the order and instead offered a separation pay to at least 70 of the employees.

De Vera claimed that the employees have stopped receiving their salary for almost a year now and that APEC has begun harassing consumers which joined the boycott on paying power bills from the company.

Jimenez has filed a case against APEC for theft and illegal disconnection. APEC general manager Manuel Imperial disclosed that it is readying charges against MPCF for illegal connection.

The interim board has filed for the annulment of the Aleco privatization scheme, alleging that the acquisition of Aleco by San Miguel Corporation through public bidding was a farce and was conducted through a highly manipulated constituent assembly. (with PNA report.)

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