Ombudsman tells cops not to accept Triton equipment

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas yesterday warned the Police Regional Office not to accept the surveillance equipment delivered by Triton Communications since there is a problem discovered in its system.

Ombudsman-Visayas director Virginia Santiago told P/SSupt. Lani-o Nerez not to accept the 41 surveillance cameras now being placed along the ceremonial routes for the delegates to the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit scheduled next week.

"The burden now lies with the PNP kinahanglang dili gyud ninyo dawaton," Santiago told Nerez.

Nerez, together with the representatives from the two warring camera suppliers - Triton Communications and Cebesos Development Corp. - were present in yesterday's preliminary conference, which was held in response to the request for assistance filed by Crisologo Saavedra of Cebesos, the winning bidder.

Cebesos had failed to deliver the security cameras last November 14, 2006, prompting the DPWH Bids and Awards Committee to award the contract to Triton, the second bidder.

Triton delivered the equipment before December 9, 2006, but a problem in the system of its equipment was discovered.

DPWH legal counsel Augustine Hermoso assured the anti-graft office that they are now evaluating whether they will penalize Triton for its failure to correct the system.

Jock Parba, of California Electronics, who testified before the anti-graft body in favor of Cebesos, said Triton failed to meet the specifications in its equipment, which only has 15 frames per seconds from the original 30 frames per seconds.

"Kun moingon gani ka og 30 frames per seconds, mora gyud na nagtan-aw og actual nga TV or sine. Unya kun 15 frames ra, hinay kaayo dunay gyud delay," Parba said.

But Triton legal counsel Jose Palma said: "It's too premature to say that our system cannot comply with requirement."

However, Santiago asked Cebesos to submit its own findings, and DPWH to submit documents pertaining to the conduct of the bidding and pre-inspection of the equipment.

Santiago stressed that they are cautious in settling the issue because there is a pending case filed by Saavedra before the sala of Regional Trial Court Judge Estella Singco.

The DPWH representatives told Santiago that they already gave Triton the initial P63-million payment following the installation of 41 surveillance cameras. -Ramil V. Ayuman/LPM