After being sentenced to serve time in jail by Bacolod Municipal Trial Court in Cities-Branch 5 Judge Remegio Rojo, Central Negros Electric Cooperative Inc. (Ceneco) General Manager Sulpicio Lagarde, Jr. denied the falsification charges filed against him and two other former Ceneco officials.

He vowed to file a motion for reconsideration.

Lagarde, who was charged alongside former President Edward Gasambelo and former Vice President Luis Cuenca, said the case is nine years old and he has not given the matter much attention. However, he expressed optimism over the chances the decision will be reversed.

Atty. Enrique Tabino, former Ceneco board member and current acting general manager for the utility cooperative, initially filed the case, accusing the three of conspiring to falsify Ceneco Board Resolution No. 8560-A Series of 2009, which applied a provisional rate increase.

Lagarde claimed he was not involved, saying he does not participate in board decisions.

“It’s as if I am taking part in the decision of the board in passing a resolution; as if I have the power to vote, to pass a resolution, or disapprove a resolution,” he stated. “I do not have that power, so how can I become part of the conspiracy?”

Lagarde also questioned why only the two board members who moved for approval were named in the case but not those who seconded the motion.

“We will submit documents to the judge for him to take a second look,” he affirmed.

Lagarde said the evidence he plans to present with “balance” the judge’s decision./DGB, WDJ