All of the 82 collection agents of the Benguet Electric Cooperative, – the sole franchise to operate an electric power service in Baguio City and Benguet province – remit their payments to the group of former Beneco acting head, Engr. Melchor Licoben.

This, according to a letter of Beneco general manager Ana Marie Rafael and Board Members dated 2
8 August to Baguio City Rep. Mark O. Go, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, Vice Mayor Faustino A. Olowan, and the Baguio City Council.

It showed that all payment centers remit their daily collections to the group of Licoben. These are Beneco headquarters on South Drive, Baguio City, Maharlika Livelihood Complex in Baguio City, Bonuan Condominium in Barangay Salud Mitra, Baguio City, Beneco Building on Km. 4, La Trinidad, Benguet, and Beneco Bekes, Abatan, Buyacaoan, Benguet and all the private collecting agents.

"In fact, since the system/program that holds the records of all payments of consumers are at the South Drive office, they can manipulate the system and not post any payments made to banks or online transactions such as GCash, even if the Bayad Center deposits all of these collections with Chinabank," the letter read.

Amid claims of Licoben's group that the cooperative's cash flow has been greatly impacted, Beneco officials sought the addressees' interference saying that millions of collections are made daily which is sufficient to cover the cooperative's obligations.

"Based on the Joint Statement of NEA (National Electrification Administration) and CDA (Cooperative Development Authority), may we request the Council to request the group of Engr. Licoben to account for the expenses which were used in their published General Assemblies since all of those assemblies were not sanctioned by NEA and CDA thus, they must be accountable," the letter added.

The Beneco officials also requested the City Council to inquire about the questionable outstanding previous loan of P81,074,671.50 from the Developmental, Bank of the Philippines credit line but for an unspecified purpose, and another P309 million loan with DBP for the Man-asok Mini Hydro in Buguias, Benguet.

They assured that accounts in the banks are secured and remain untouched.