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.

The installation of four CCTV cameras at the CENECO office at Mabini Street was part of their contract with Lifeguard Archangel Security Agency that should have been done by January 19, Lapore said.

The board also gave Lagarde the authority to impose sanctions on CENECO personnel under him who failed to ensure the installation of the CCTV cameras, Lapore said.

The suspension of Lagarde will be imposed on his return from the United States where he is officially attending a gathering of international cooperatives, Lapore added.

The CENECO board is also receptive to putting up a reward for the arrest of the robbers yesterday but will awaiting the recommendation of the police, he said.

They are not ruling out the possibility that someone from within CENECO had provided the robbers with information that enabled them to carry out the heist, Lapore added.*CPG

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