Ombuds asked to probe MCWD bids committee

CEBU, Philippines - For the delay in resolving their motion for reconsideration, St. Jude Security Services asked the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to investigate the Bids and Award Committee of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District.

Earlier, SJSS filed a motion for reconsideration on Jun. 8, 2012 after they were disqualified from bidding made by the MCWD for “failure to submit an adequate bank credit line.”

However, general manager Patrick Henry Quezon said up to the present the MCWD has not resolved their motion for reconsideration.

“In the line with your moral duty to lead and to fight graft and corruption to investigate the BAC, why it delayed the resolution of the motion for reconsideration, the declaration of winning bidders as if to justify the extension of the existing contracts,” the letter read.

The letter was addressed to Eligio Pacaña, chairman of the board of directors of MCWD. SJSS also furnished the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, the Commission on Audit and other officials in the government copies of the said letter.

In the said letter, Quezon said sometime last April, they read a public invitation to bid in a newspaper and the website published by MCWD “seeking security service providers for security of its office and other facilities.”

Reportedly, the existing security contract of the MCWD was scheduled to expire on Jul. 31, 2012.

The pre-bidding conference was set on May 15, 2012 and the opening of bid was scheduled from May 29, 2012 to Jun. 5, 2012.

The declaration of winners was supposedly set on Jul. 17, 2012.

However, Quezon said up to Aug. 13, 2012 they have not received any result of the public bidding.

“Our security agency has paid a hefty amount for the bidding documents and put in considerable time and resources in the collation and compliance of all the requirements to bid, not to mention time and energy in the participation of the bidding,” letter read.

Moreover, he said MCWD likewise did not resolve their motion for reconsideration.

Quezon added they learned from other bidders that the MCWD “failed to declare the winning bidders” and extended the contract of the existing security agency for six months.

He said such an act was a violation of the existing rules of MCWD.

With those foregoing statements, Quezon asked the anti-graft office to furnish them copies of the minutes of the pre-bidding conference, the bidding conference and the minutes of the meeting of the consideration of the motions for reconsideration filed by the participating bidders.

Quezon likewise asked the anti-graft office to direct MCWD “to cease and desist from disbursing any funds for the extension of the security contracts.” –(FREEMAN)