The former general manager of the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO) said on Wednesday, May 1, that he was unjustly dismissed by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and has filed a motion for reconsideration for reinstatement.
Engr. Ray Bustamante, at a press conference in Bacolod City, said he is innocent of the charges filed against him and has also lodged a case against the NEA for illegal suspension and termination before the Court of Appeals.
Bustamante said because he was terminated he will not receive even five centavos for his dedicated and honest service to the NOCECO member-consumers for 25 years.
He also said prior his termination in April he had not received a salary for six months.
The NEA in April ordered the removal from office of 12 members of the NOCECO board of directors for awarding themselves P65,534,504.20 in various allowances and benefits that NEA considers “unauthorized and invalid”.
Bustamante was also terminated for receiving at least P2, 127,111.00 representing the undue increase in his salary and per diems as the supposed general manager of NOCECO, as well as other unwarranted benefits, the NEA said.
The P2.1 million was the differential increase in his salary, he worked for it and it was legal, Bustamante said.
The amount was approved by the NOCECO board, he did not illegally take it so what is his fault? he asked.
Bustamante said he was unjustly terminated for accepting salaries and benefits that were granted to him by the NOCECO board. He was also terminated for assuming the post of general manager which he was also appointed to by the NOCECO board, he added.*