Saavedra seeks TRO vs. MCIA landing system

CEBU, Philippines - Whistleblower Crisologo Saavedra has requested the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board to authorize him to file a Temporary Restraining Order against the implementation of the Instrument Landing System at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

Saavedra has filed criminal and administrative complaints against MCIAA officials, Philcox Inc. and Selex Sistemi Integrati Inc. and the International Civil Aviation Organization with the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas about the alleged anomalous purchase of aviation equipment.

Saavedra requested PCAB to investigate without delay the status of the license of Philcox so as not to endanger the lives of airline passengers.

He said that based on documents he got from PCAB, Philcox does not have the experience, track record and the legal capacity to participate in the bidding for the ILS project of MCIAA in the amount of $2.4 million.

In filing the complaint before the anti-graft office, Saavedra accused the airport board of favoring project contractor Philcox Inc. without a competitive bidding.

He said the MCIAA awarded the consultancy contract to the ICAO, which was paid $2.2 million for its services as part of a “midnight contract”.

Named respondents were former MCIAA general manager Danilo Francia, Valeriano “Bobit” Avila, Renato Osmeña, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Winglip Chang, Gordon Joseph, Romeo Bersonda, the ICAO and Philcox Inc.

The ICAO allegedly facilitated the bidding, which was held in the United States. (FREEMAN)