Two Catholic bishops have formally petitioned Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla to temporarily suspend the Board of Directors of the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO II) as official inquiries continue into a controversial partnership with Ignite Power.
Diocese of Marbel Bishop Cerilo Casicas and Diocese of San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, who serves as president of Caritas Philippines, submitted a letter on Tuesday, September 1, calling for immediate administrative action and requesting a formal meeting with the Office of the Ombudsman to address growing opposition to the joint venture agreement.
“We urgently call for the issuance of a preventive suspension order against the members of the SOCOTECO II Board of Directors implicated in the pending complaints,” the bishops wrote.
“Allowing them to remain in office while investigations proceed poses a continuous threat to cooperative assets, institutional records, and the free expression of consumer will in the presently ongoing illegitimate plebiscite,” they added.
Speaking on behalf of local clergy and approximately 300,000 member-consumer-owners of the utility cooperative, the prelates characterized the dispute as a major governance breakdown marked by alleged procedural flaws and compromised leadership.
The petition follows previously filed criminal and administrative charges against SOCOTECO II directors and officials from the National Electrification Administration concerning alleged deal irregularities, which remain under active Ombudsman review.