The accusation of the Complainant has no factual basis. Worse, the accusation rests solely on conjectures, surmises and speculations.

A joint venture between Crown Investment Holdings Inc. and Desco Inc. will revive the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative.

A high official from the Department of Energy (DoE) refuted graft accusations in relation to an investment management contract (IMC) to oversee the ailing Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ZAMCELCO).

DoE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella, in a counter-affidavit filed with the Ombudsman, debunked the claims of 47 Zamboanga residents that he voted in favor of an IMC that was awarded to the joint venture of Crown Investment Holdings Inc. and Desco Inc. to revive ZAMCELCO.

“The accusation of the Complainant has no factual basis. Worse, the accusation rests solely on conjectures, surmises and speculations,” he added.

The Zamboanga residents in a 24-page alleged complaint, alleged that the approval of the award was “fraught with irregularities.”

“According to the Complainant, I am probably guilty of violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and guilty of grave misconduct, when I, together with the members of the Board of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), decided in favor of approving the IMC,” Fuentebella said.

Fuentebella explained that he, or the DoE secretary, can preside as the chairman of the NEA’s board of directors, but are unable to vote on any matter for approval unless there is a tie.

Fuentebella said that during the minutes for the approval of the IMC to the two firms, three NEA board members voted in favor of the award, versus only one who voted against it.

“Therefore, considering that there was no tie, I did not cast a vote in my capacity as Alternate of the Chairman,” the official said.

“Accordingly, the criminal and administrative charges against me have no factual basis. On this ground alone, the same should be dismissed outright,” he added.

Fuentebella also said that based on the results of the minutes of approval, “there is absolutely no showing of any undue injury to any party or of a grant of unwarranted benefits or preference to any party.”

He added that it does not contain any allegation that the IMC would be financially or operationally disadvantageous to the consumers, or injurious to the consumers.