11 DanecoCDA workers nabbed
THE DISPUTE between the two factions of electric cooperatives in the provinces of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley took a new twist as 11 employees of Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative-Coopera
tive Development Authority (Daneco-CDA) were detained since Friday after they were arrested for reconnecting lines that were cut down by rival Daneco-National Electrification Association (NEA).
Brig. Gen. Marcelo Morales, Regional Director, said the police arrested 11 suspects at about 3:30 p.m. Friday in Barangay Tagnanan, Mabini, Compostela Valley.
Morales said personnel of Daneco-NEA personally reported to the Mabini police station that certain persons were illegally reconnecting electricity line to members of the Mampising CARP Beneficiaries Coop (MCBC) in Tagnanan.
Acting on the report, the joint team from the Compostela Valley Police Provincial Office and the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division conducted the operation.
Morales said the suspects “were, in plain view, caught in the act” of reconnecting electricity line in violation of Republic Act 7832 (the law penalizing the pilferage of electricity), RA 10531 (the NEA Reform Act) and RA 10591 (the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
In November last year, the NEA has issued a ceaseand-desist order against the Daneco-CDA pursuant to Republic Act 10531.
Per order, the DanecoCDA was directed to refrain from “further performing any and all acts of management and/or control of the electric cooperative or any portion of its franchise area.”
But the Daneco-CDA continued to reconnect electricity lines that were cut down by Daneco-NEA.
Those arrested were identified as meter Inspector Gilmor Navarra, 31, of Asuncion; ground man Breselo Veñares, 46, of Barangay San Miguel, Tagum City; line men Ricky Peñas, 45, of Maco, Vernie Aurelio, 35, of Laak, Bonifacio Mandawe, 28, of Maco, Manny Morata, 37, of Maco; and Task Force Daneco-CDA members Rolando Manabat, 52, of Panabo City, Rogelio Opao, Sr., 56 of Montevista, Benjamin Tolibad, 63, of Tagum City, Jimmy Magsanay, 40 of Tagum City, and Delfin Tomaquin, 50, of Tagum City.
The cities of Tagum and Panabo, and the town of Asuncion are in Davao del Norte, while Montevista, Laak and Maco are in Compestela Valley.
Aside from electrical materials, Morales said police also confiscated a caliber .45 pistol with serial no. M12114129, two magazines of caliber 45 pistol and eight live bullets from Opao without any pertinent documents. A foldable shotgun was also confiscated.
Other materials seized from the possession of the suspects included a six-meter service drop wire no. 6 aluminum, an extendable ladder, a safety belt, two screw drivers; an electric pliers, a flashlight, a tester and a red Mazda Bongo bearing plate no. ABV 1301;
The arrested persons, together with the pieces of evidence, are now under the custody of Mabini police station pending the filing of appropriate charges.