By RIGOR ZABALA

Apprehensive that the franchise of the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco) in Davao de Oro would be hijacked by power giant Davao Light and Power Company of the Aboitiz Group as what is about to happen in Davao del Norte, Members-Consumers-Owners (MCOs) of the cooperative in the province are junking the reelection of 2nd District Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga and the gubernatorial bid of his wife, Dorothy Gonzaga.

The plus 100,000-strong MCOs spread around Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte are opposing moves to disenfranchise the 60-year old cooperative.

Davao del Norte First District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, chairman of the opposition party Reporma, authored the House bill that would give Davao Light , which already has a franchise covering Davao del Norte’s Second District, the right to operate in the province’s First District.

Alvarez was supported by Governor Edwin Jubahib, Reporma secretary general, who was behind a signature campaign calling to disenfranchise Nordeco.

The reelection of Alvarez, former ally turned foe of President Rodrigo Duterte, is facing an uphill battle against Tristan Aala (HNP); first termer Jubahib’s reelection is contested by veteran politician Board member Roy Catalan.

In Davao de Oro, Gonzaga and his politically neophyte wife, Dorothy, a former associate justice of the Court of Appeals, are running under the banner of the Reporma Party chaired by Alvarez.

The fear overwhelming MCOs in Davao de Oro is that the Gonzagas, if they win in the May 9 polls, could do an Alvarez-and-Jubahib stunt and sell out Nordeco’s Davao de Oro franchise to Davao Light.

This fear has basis: the House bill authored by Alvarez gives a franchise to Davao Light not only over Davao del Norte’s First District but also over Davao de Oro’s municipality of Maco.

In Davao del Norte, Nordeco’s MCOs are coming out in full force to deliver in the May 9 election what they call as the NORDECO VOTE, a resounding “No!” to the reelection bids of Alvarez and Jubahib.

In the May 9 contest in Davao de Oro, Gonzaga’s reelection is up against former Governor Jose Caballero of the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) of presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte while Dorothy Gonzaga is contesting the gubernatorial post with comebcking former Governor now senior Board member Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy, also of the HNP.