A member of the Board of Directors of Central Negros Electric Cooperative yesterday said he was elected by the consumer-members of the electric cooperative because of his advocacy, and not because of the influence of the mayor.

Director Roy Cordova was referring to the press conference of former CENECO president Eduard Gasambelo, who claimed that Cordova, who represents District IV, won the election because of his alliance with Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Cordova, however, said he won overwhelmingly against Gasambelo because of his advocacy concerning the protection of the oppressed and the masses, being a member of a progressive organization.

“For him to say that I won because of Leonardia is far-fetched because the mayor did not even know me personally when I ran for a seat in the CENECO Board," he said. Gasambelo’s claim is an insult to the consumer-members of CENECO, he added.

Cordova said it is only incidental that he and the mayor have the same stand in protecting the interest of the power consumers.

He said he is known to have maintained his independence as a member of a progressive group who would not allow others to influence his decision.

He had worked his way up in CENECO where he had been employed for 29 years before he resigned and ran for member of the board of directors, Cordova said.

CENECO is now suffering a financial hemorrhage because of Gasambelo's men, he said, citing an internal audit report.

Cordova said he was just a meter reader, while Gasambelo is a professional electrical engineer, but the consumers of District IV have spoken and voted for him instead.

Meanwhile, CENECO will hold its annual general assembly on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the University of St. La Salle gym, where officers and members of the Board are expected to update member-consumers on the status and financial position of the cooperative.*CGS

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