By Gil Alfredo B. Severino

Lone District of Bacolod Representative Monico Puentevella, amidst brownouts in these times of scorching heat yesterday raised concerns that the City of Bacolod has outstanding obligations or unpaid debts with Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Ceneco) estimated to be P250 million, of which such amount could have been used optimally for maintenance services or the purchase of back up machineries.

In his Bombo Radyo program "Congressional Hour," Puentevella disclosed that there were previous meetings with Ceneco people at his residence where he learned exactly the direct impact of this P250 million debt of the City on Ceneco’s maintenance work at an optimal level.

Hinting therefore, that if only the City under Mayor Evelio Leonardia is managed well and pay Ceneco its due, shut downs due to poor maintenance work need not require long hours because the payment can be used for the latter’s investment in mechanical expansion programs.

What is happening now, Puentevella said, is that at the root of "Ceneco’s brownouts," Leonardia does not have plans to pay Ceneco, citing a memorandum order for all City departments and agencies not to pay, thus the bigger consequence is the people’s suffering of the heat caused by the City’s unpaid debt.

This is quite the reverse during the time of Mayor Joy Valdez who implemented the law by religiously paying Ceneco for what the City owes it, the Bacolod Solon said.

Meantime, other than the Ceneco brownout issue, Puentevella deplored the state of peace and security of Bacolod citing the latest shooting and kidnapping incident which took place in Barangay Dulao, Bago City, as reported by NDB over the weekend.

Although Puentevella, because of his friendship, does not like to mention the names of the victims but PC Insp. Jefferson Descallar, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO)-Operations and Plans Branch chief, revealed that Jordan Chua, 26, of Sta. Clara Subdivision, Bacolod City was forcibly taken by the suspects; while his companion, Joel Arroyo, of Brgy. Mansilingan was rushed to the Bacolod City Adventist Medical Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound in the chest (NDB, March 6).

Likewise, Puentevella called the attention of the Catholic Church and the people of Bacolod that Small Town Lottery (STL) is indiscreetly operating in Bacolod City, their head of operations being based in Silay City.

He expressed dismay that Leonardia’s close in bodyguard PO1 Kenjie Beloya who shot a 59 year old neighbor nine times with a 9mm pistol, Vivian Niepes of Purok 3, Magsungay, Barangay Singcang-Airport, is still at large with no warrant of arrest at all.

Puentevella also recalled unsolved cases of Leandro Salido and Mario Salazar, all these under the Mayoralty watch of Leonardia.*