DIPOLOG CITY - Local candidates under the ruling Liberal Party (LP) have
denounced the partisan acts committed by the Zamboanga del Norte Electric
Cooperative (ZANECO) favoring their political rivals.
In a press
conference held recently at Seven Treasures restaurant here, the LP candidates
said ZANECO has been politicized under the leadership of General Manager (GM)
Adelmo Laput who reportedly got the position through the backing of former
congressman Romeo G. Jalosjos whose siblings, children and relatives are now
running for various elective posts in Zamboanga Peninsula.
“ZANECO was
politicized instead of being a cooperative created for the people of Zamboanga
del Norte,” said city councilor Atty. James Verduguez.
The city council is
now calling for an in-depth investigation on the alleged mismanagement of the
cooperative including its financial status.
Assistant City
Information Officer Leonor Rabino cited an incident in which ZANECO had unduly
cut the electricity of the city government only a few days after the latter
received its electric bill. Despite the city government’s request to give a little
allowance while the payment was being processed, the ZANECO management still
turned it down.
But, during the
time of Dapitan City Mayor Dominador Jalosjos Jr., ZANECO only cut the power
after several months the city government had failed to pay its electric bill.
“All I want is
transparency in ZANECO. We are paying much and yet we are suffering
curtailment,” Mayor Evelyn t. Uy said.
It has been also
observed that streamers thanking former congressman Romeo Jalosjos, incumbent
congressmen Seth Frederick Jalosjos and Cesar G. Jalosjos of the province’s
first and second districts, respectively, are being hung at all ZANECO offices
in Dipolog, Sindangan, Piñan and Liloy, and in all its sub-stations as well.
The streamer
expresses gratitude to the Jalosjos congressmen for sponsoring a bill seeking
to condone ZANECO debts which resulted from the cases filed by former Zamboanga
del Norte governor Isagani S. Amatong against ZANECO.
Amatong is now
running as LP candidate for a congressional seat of the province’s third
district against Johanna Jalosjos-Parreño, daughter of incumbent congressman
Cesar Jalosjos who is also running for governor of Zamboanga del Norte.
Mayor Uy assailed
ZANECO saying “it’s no longer a cooperative for it no longer serves the
interest of the people.”
On the issue of
killings in the city as alleged by Jalosjos camp, Councilor Verduguez said the
LP never sowed terror to the public.
“Is there any
leader from them (referring to APP candidates) killed?,” he asked.
On the other hand,
Councilor James Cyril O. Ruiz said: “They may have said it because they don’t
have any issue to implicate the LP.”
City Vice Mayor
Senen O. Angeles also urged the people to open their eyes and see the things
happening in the province.
“They have served
for many years but nothing is changed. We need sincere and just officials,”
Angeles declared.