KORONADAL CITY — A controversial power deal involving South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative is facing mounting pressure after two Catholic bishops asked the Office of the Ombudsman to suspend the cooperative’s board, warning that consumers could ultimately pay the price.
Diocese of Marbel Bishop Cerilo Casicas and Caritas Philippines President Bishop Gerardo Alminaza are seeking the immediate preventive suspension of the SOCOTECO II Board of Directors as opposition intensifies against its proposed joint venture agreement with Ignite Power.
At the heart of the dispute is a question that could affect roughly 300,000 member-consumer-owners across South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City: who will control the cooperative, and what could the deal mean for future electricity rates?
The bishops said criminal and administrative complaints have already been filed before the Ombudsman against members of the SOCOTECO II board and officials of the National Electrification Administration.
They argued that allowing the board to remain in office while the complaints are being investigated could put cooperative records and assets at risk and further erode public confidence in the process surrounding the proposed agreement.
The church leaders also challenged the legitimacy of a plebiscite linked to the joint venture, alleging that the voting rights of member-consumer-owners were being compromised.
The allegations remain subject to investigation and appropriate legal proceedings.
But the controversy has already moved beyond questions of boardroom governance.
Casicas and Alminaza said consumers are increasingly concerned that the proposed arrangement could eventually translate into higher electricity charges and weaken their influence over a cooperative they collectively own.
The bishops have requested a direct meeting with Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to raise what they described as cases of consumer disenfranchisement and concerns over the possible impact of the proposed privatized setup.
“Electricity touches almost every aspect of daily life. It is not merely a commercial commodity; it is an essential public service,” Casicas said.
For consumers, the stakes could be significant.
SOCOTECO II is not simply another private utility company. As an electric cooperative, its member-consumer-owners have a direct stake in its governance, making any major change in its management structure or business model a sensitive issue.
The proposed joint venture has therefore become a wider battle over transparency, consumer ownership and the future cost of electricity in one of Mindanao’s key economic areas.
With complaints now before the Ombudsman and church leaders openly calling for board intervention, pressure is building on authorities to determine whether the proposed deal protects consumers — or exposes them to greater financial and governance risks.
