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| GLEDCO board chair Enrico Aurelio (extreme left) explains a point during a committee hearing at the Sangguniang Panlungsod session hall. (Doms dela Cruz) |
By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff reporter
Laoag City—After the Commission on Audit’s (COA) said in its annual audit report that all transactions between the Government of Laoag Employees Development Cooperative (GLEDCO) and the Laoag City government has “conflict of interest”, the homegrown cooperative has taken steps to rescind all its contracts with the city government.
The COA reports were for 2016 and 2017 and involved at least Php66 million.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod here and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan also started separate hearings on the issue.
The city council has also since passed a resolution urging Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas to rescind all contracts between the city government and GLEDCO.
GLEDCO board chairperson Enrico Aurelio said that they have cut their contracts with the city government except the dietary and laundry services at the Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH) continues despite the COA report.
Mr. Aurelio explained that they are continuing with the services until the city government can find another firm to handle the services. He stressed that they are doing so because they do not want to disrupt LCGH’s normal daily operations.
Laoag councilor Justine Clarence Chua, who sponsored the measure calling for the rescinding of contracts said GLEDCO should strictly follow the COA report.
“Dagitoy audit findings ket saan a GLEDCO ti agsagrap no di ketdi iti siyudad. Dagiti tulong a serbisyo nga inted iti GLEDCO isu dagitoy dagitay gasolina nga inus-usar ti amubulansya a nangsalbar iti biag; isu dagitay nagastos a makan dagitay pasyente iti hospital; dagitay nagastos a pinanglaba dagitay usaren da tapnu saan da nga ag-infection; ken dagitay gasolina iti compactors a pagbunag iti basura iti kal-kalsada,” Mr. Aurelio said.
“Saan mi a rigaten daytoy inaramid iti COA ngem sapay kuma ta maawatan da even at the risk of being disallowed, indanun mi iti tulong iti siyudad ket milyones iti balor na dagitoy ket saan da kuma nga iparit wennu i-disallow ta naiserbi met dagitoy ken saan mi met a tinaktakaw,” the GLEDCO board chairperson added.
Unaccounted amount
Mr. Aurelio also confirmed that they have an issue of unaccounted funds. He identified cashier Dianalyn Rentegrado as the one behind the missing funds.
He disclosed that their internal investigation showed that Ms. Rentegrado admitted she was involved in the missing funds, which the investigation report pegged at least PHP4 million.
GLEDCO officials plan to meet to decide whether to file a case against Ms. Rentegrado or just ask her to pay back the lost funds.
Mr. Aurelio said they immediately suspended Ms. Rentegrado after they learned of the issue.
“Ket inpasimodaag na pay a kayat na nga isubli dagita nasagid na a kuarta,” Mr. Aurelio said adding that the board is open to this possibility.
Ms. Rentegrado is just one among other cooperative employees who are involved missing GLEDCO funds.
Another GLEDCO employee identified as JB Don Mariano, which the cooperative accused of missing at least PHP1 million. GLEDCO has since filed a case against him in court.
GLEDCO also accused Norwin Atud, an employee of the city government for non-remittance of GEDCO raffle ticket payments amounting to at least PHP400,000.00.
Three other GLEDCO employees were allegedly involved in missing funds but the coop in an investigation later found them not liable.
Manifesto
Mr. Aurelio also touched on an alleged manifesto and signature campaign that is calling for a special general assembly for GLEDCO members.
He said the manifesto has yet to reach the board. He stressed that they will immediately act on it and hold a general assembly if necessary.
The manifesto allegedly states that GLEDCO members want enlightenment on the various issues facing the coop.
“No kuma adda pannakabalin na ket saan tayo nga agpipinnalikod. Umay kayo dumasar wennu sumango kadakami ta ammo yo iti maysa a problema iti board ket no kasanu met nga ag-communicate kami kadakayo no di ket laeng itigeneral assembly. No adda problema yun, umasideg kayon ta ilawlawag min no ania dagita a probleman,” Mr. Aurelio appealed.
He added that any depositors are free to withdraw their money from GLEDCO anytime, “Ngem iti laeng kiddawen mi nga no adda makapanunot nga ag-withdraw iti dakkel nga amount, ipila tayo ti uneg iti 60 days ta saan da met a napilpilit ngaag-deposit ken saan a napukaw dagita a deposits ken insured dagitoy”.
As of July, 2018, GLEDCO has a total of 2,625 members.
GLEDCO services
Despite these controversies, Mr. Aurelio said GLEDCO is still surviving even though they ceased their service contracts with the Laoag City government.
As of July, 2018, records show that GLEDCO has total assets of P960,124,259.33.
At present, GLEDCO offers lending services, and operates a cafeteria, three gasoline stations, water station/ice cubes, pharmacy/grocery, hollow blocks and pavers, photocopying/lamination, ID picture, large format photo printing, photo booth, van rental, mag printing, organic fertilizer, LPG distribution, tutorial and e-fly travel and tours.
GLEDCO also offers loans on car/housing/business; buy-out loan, hold-out loan; consolidated loan; regular loan; medical loan; appliance loan; all-purpose loan; calamity loan; GCARD; petty cash; purchase order; express loan; rice loan; and rediscounting of checks.
GLEDCO expects more expansion soon including the opening of another 24-hour convenience store at the city’s south of the river portion and another gasoline station at Brgy. Buttong here.
However, a temporary restraining order (TRO) stopped the construction of GLEDCO Tower “gapu ta mabuteng dagiti aglawlaw na a marsood iti building da ta ngamin tay pannakaitaltal tay poste na ket isu met iti mang dayyeg iti daga isut kabuteng ni Mr. Michael Luis,” Mr. Aurelio said.