Yt Framework

“Puro le lasang.”
Thus, retorted Zamcelco board president Elbert “Bong” Atilano to statements made by Atty. Kim Elago that the twin resolutions approved by the member consumers during the Annual General Membership Assembly (AGMA) declaring vacant the position of the coop general manager and appointing him GM to replace Eng. Jesus Castro was null and void.

In an interview at his Zamcelco office, Atilano who was fuming mad and asked Elago to call him or better see him before making accusations that are unfounded and untrue.

“I know the by-laws of the cooperative. This is the reason during the AGMA I thanked the electric consumers for showing trust and confidence on my capacity to manage the cooperative. I stressed there and then that I should have been consulted first before they adopted the resolution for me to be the GM. I even said that I don’t run away from challenges especially if it is for the welfare of the member consumers and the improvement of the operations of our cooperative.

I said I was willing to accept the challenge of the body however, process should be followed in the selection of the GM. I am aware of the selection process and I know the final approval will come from the board. NEA will approve from the qualified list of applicants but the board will choose among the applicants to become the GM. This is a unique situation wherein the member consumers who are the owners, themselves, being the highest in the hierarchy of the coop are the one who will appoint the GM,” Atilano said. 

The Zamcelco president told Elago that right now he does not have any desire to become the GM of the cooperative “because I will run for councillor in District 2.”

And besides, Atilano said, under the by-laws and process of the cooperative he has first to resign as president before he can be the GM. “So in this case I have not resigned as president that means I am not the GM. If I signed orders and other requirements of Zamcelco I was functioning as the board president and not as GM. Poreso numas anay man dada que dada si nusabe man cosa ta pasa.”

When asked that Elago was also questioning why he is holding office in Zamcelco, Atilano again nagged at the lawyers inquiry saying “Onde man gale iyo man oficina na City Hall o alla na oficina disuyu?”

He said he was elected president of the board and as president under the coop’s bylaws he is the principal officer of the board and can hold office in Zamcelco while the rest of the board members can come during meetings only.

According to Atilano, NEA last June 20, 2012 had already faxed a letter to OIC Charito Mabitazan which ordered him to report and continue discharging his functions as NEA representative to oversee the operations of Zamcelco which Castro is still out.

“So with this letter I know that Mabitazan is the OIC and so I have not acted as GM because what I am doing right now is function as the president of the cooperative.” Atilano said.

by: Nonong Santiago