8 armed men rob
Ceneco of P3.6M
BY ADRIAN NEMES III

About six to eight armedmen robbed the Central Negros ElectricCooperative in Bacolod Cityand took P3.6 million in cash that was set to be picked up by an armored vehicle for bank deposit at about 9:15 a.m. yesterday.

The robbers, who carried short firearms, did not conceal their faces with masksand only wore bull caps when they entered the CENECO cash division office after disarming five guards, City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz said.

De la Paz said the robbery lasted for about 3 minutes and the suspects escaped on board motorcycles after getting the money. Some of the suspects went out through the main door of the firm, while another got out through a window, he said.

The board of directors of Central Negros Electric Cooperative last night approved the suspension of CENECO manager Sulpicio Lagarde for 15 days for perceived negligence, for his failure to ensure the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in their office.

The CCTV cameras could have been a deterrent against robbers, and vital to solving the robbery of P3.6 million at CENECO yesterday, Arnel Lapore, the coop president, said.

The decision to suspend Lagarde was decided in a special board meeting that ended at 10:30 last night.

Criminal and administrative complaints for plunder, malversation of public funds and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act were filed yesterday before the Office of the Ombudsman against Sipalay City Mayor Oscar Chua Montilla Jr., and more than 20 others, a press release from the Samahang Magdalo Inc. said.

The press release from SMI president Gary Alejano said Montilla Jr. was accused of allegedly stashing away P480 million or more of government funds from the period of 2002 to 2010.

The complaint was lodged against the mayor and the other accused by Rodolfo Divinagracia, a resident of Sipalay City and a member of Samahang Magdalo, the press release said.