On 6 May 2024, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Mariano C. Almeda personally endorsed several of the NEA’s administrative cases to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Almeda met with DOJ Undersecretary Jose R. Cadiz, Jr., referring several cases for the proper determination of possible criminal liabilities therein. The Electric Cooperatives (ECs) subject of the said cases include:

The Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO), wherein the NEA found the respondents therein administratively liable for having unduly granted themselves salaries, allowances, and benefits over and above the NEA’s Guidelines and without the NEA’s explicit approval, amounting to roughly Eighty-Two Million Pesos (PHP82,000,000.00) over the span of roughly three (3) years;

The First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative, Inc., wherein the NEA found the respondents therein administratively liable for several major infractions, namely (i) the misrepresentation of data submitted to the NEA with the view of “window-dressing” its financial operations; (ii) overspending on non-power costs amounting to roughly Ninety-Two Million Seven Hundred Thousand Pesos (PHP92,700,000.00); (iii) violations of the NEA’s Procurement Guidelines; and (iv) the undue grant of salary increases, allowances, and benefits over and above the NEA’s Guidelines and without the NEA’s explicit approval, among others; and

The Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative, Inc.–Area 2 (NEECO 2-Area 2), which is currently being investigated by the NEA, with the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). This incident stems from a systems breakdown of NEECO 2-Area 2’s checks and balances of its employee retirement fund, as well as its general fund, which resulted in the misappropriation of roughly Two Hundred Fifty Million Pesos (PHP250,000,000.00)

In the same meeting, the DOJ likewise advised the NEA on the other possible remedial measures available to it in pursuing erring ECs. The DOJ likewise manifested its continuing support to Administrator Almeda’s campaign for the promotion of good governance and accountabilities.

The NEA is the National Agency having primary regulatory jurisdiction over all ECs, regardless of registration, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 269, as Amended by Republic Act No. 10531, among others. ###