Ceneco worker under probe for P200K overtime pay

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) acting general manager Atty. Arnel Lapore ordered an investigation on the alleged “highest” overtime pay of one of their personnel which amounted to more than P200,000 in just six months.

In a memorandum to Engr. Norman Pollentes, manager of the  Consumers Account Department, Lapore said “It has come to the attention of the management that Mrs. Stefanie Montaner registered the highest overtime pay for the past six months starting from January  2023 to June 2023 in the amount of P206,540.”

“It is likewise noted that CAD personnel particularly the disconnectors incurred a considerable amount of overtime. Notwithstanding the cost of overtime, our collection efficiency for June reached only 87 percent while in July 2023, 89 percent. We cannot, therefore, appreciate the value of the overtime rendered by the personnel under your department,” Lapore added.

Lapore also alluded to the alleged favoritism of some consumers with unpaid bills.

“We took notice also that there are employees of Ceneco who were spared from being disconnected despite having incurred three months of past due account notable of which is Felix Gepielga’s whose account has been ordered ‘hold’ by Mrs. Montaner. Strangely, the account of Atty. Rey Gorgonio covering six months which has been due for the past six months was likewise spared from being disconnected. It was learned that the account was settled after you called the attention of Mrs. Montaner of such circumstance.”

Pollentes was given three days to investigate and submit his findings to Lapore’s office.

“In the light of the foregoing, you are hereby directed to immediately investigate the activities and program of work of the Office of Stefanie Montaner vis-a-vis its projected output and initiate measures to stop the foregoing malpractice of the said office. You are further ordered to investigate Stefanie Montaner as to how and when the foregoing practice has been going on and submit a report of your findings three days from receipt thereof,” Lapore said in his memo.

Daily Guardian is still trying to get the side of Montaner, who was “ousted” as president of the Ceneco Union of Rational Employees in July 2023.

Gorgonio, on the other hand, used to be the legal counsel of the union.