3 Mactan airport officials sued over ‘rigged’ bidding

CEBU, Philippines - Anti-graft crusader Crisologo Saavedra has filed a complaint against the officials of the Bids and Awards Committee of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) for allegedly rigging the public bidding for the construction of the P200 million Administration Building No.2.

Saavedra cancelled his first complaint addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte which he filed before the Office of the Ombudsman a day before the March 24 bidding.

He alleged that the bidding procedure was defective and illegal.

“Inspite of our request for the cancellation of the illegal bidding last March 24, 2017, the MCIAA BAC did not cancel the bidding and bided out as scheduled and five bidders participated but the MCIAA BAC disqualified all the bidders for non-compliance of the bidding requirements and documents,” Saavedra said.

Named respondents in the case are MCIAA assistant general manager Atty. Glenn Napuli, as BAC chairman; Atty. Cyril Apao as vice chairman, and Gina Cane as regular member.

Napuli said they welcome the case filed by Saavedra, adding that MCIAA will also issue an official statement on the case filed against the BAC officials.

“As to the bidding, it will proceed. He may continue extorting money from contractors but he cannot influence the BAC,” Napuli said.

Contrary to Saavedra’s claims, Napuli said there was a preliminary investigation in the bidding documents and the BAC followed the provisions provided for under Republic Act No. 9184, also known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Saavedra alleged that BAC favors a contractor who has purchased the bid document during the first bidding on January 4, 2016, which was declared a failure of bidding.

He argued that it was disadvantageous to the contractors who only purchased the bid documents on March 9, 2017.

Another defect Saavedra pointed out was the non-implementation of the study and investigation of the soil through preliminary investigation as required by RA 9184 for multi-storey building. The same is also required for the procurement and implementation of contracts for infrastructure projects’ building and design.

Saavedra also alleged that the proposed lot area where the Administration Building No. 2 would soon rise is not registered under the name of MCIAA.

The identified lot, he said is subject to an adverse claim by a private person.

He also said the MCIAA Administration Building No. 1 built in 2007 is now abandoned and rotting for the same defects and violations as the proposed building 2. The lot where the building 1 sits was also claimed by a private entity.  (FREEMAN)