SUMMIT surveillance cams: Firm asks court to stop bank from paying supplier

A supplier of surveillance cameras has asked the court to stop the Landbank of the Philippines from releasing P20 million in balance payment to the company which supplied the surveillance cameras for the 12th ASEAN Summit.

The Pelican Group filed an injunction and damages case against the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 7 and Triton Communications after the department rescinded the firm's contract to supply surveillance cameras for the summit. It was the Pelican Group which won the bidding for the surveillance cameras to be used for the summit but the DPWH rescinded its contract after the firm reportedly failed to deliver the equipment on the agreed date.

The contract to supply the surveillance cameras was then awarded to Triton Communications.

Pelican's lawyer, Rolindo Navarro, during yesterday's hearing, asked the court to stop Landbank from releasing the balance payment to Triton Communications.

Landbank's lawyer Walter Areola, however, said the decision to hold payments does not lie with the bank because it merely handles the accounts of DPWH. He said the bank does not have basis to hold the payment for Triton Communications. Landbank has already released P63 million as partial payment to Triton.

DPWH lawyer Augustino Hermoso also argued that for the court to issue a restraining order to stop Landbank from releasing the balance payment is already "moot and academic" because Triton Communications already delivered the required surveillance cameras and these were even used during the 12th ASEAN Summit.

Regional Trial Court judge Eric Menchavez, who is handling the case, said he will resolve the matter on the issuance of a restraining order next week. - Ramil V. Ayuman/QSB