Vicencio claims good faith in bidding process

Malabon City Mayor Amado Vicencio, in the face of claims of one of only two bidders for a new P1.22-million city hall building that the bidding for the project could be a "hoax transaction," countered yesterday that the documents submitted by the firm "appeared" authentic so there was nothing anomalous about the bidding process.

Vicencio, in response to Councilor Edilberto Torres’ letter dated April 25, on the disclaimer of High Peak Construction Development Corp. (HPCDC) president Richard Dionisio that he was ignorant of, and did not authorize anyone in the firm’s behalf to participate in the said bidding, also said he had ordered the city’s lawyers to conduct an investigation of Dionisio’s allegations.

Vicencio, claiming good faith, said the documents were in order as attested by HPCDC’s license issued by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board. The license, however, was not issued to the president (Richard) but to a certain Alberto Dionisio, HPCDC executive vice president and secretary who signed as the authorized managing officer for the firm. The license’s validity extended from July 30, 1998 and expired on June 30, 1999.

"As you are probably aware, the person named in the contractor’s license as managing officer and whose signature appears thereon, is the person fully clothed to transact business under the license," Vicencio said in his letter to Richard.

It was not immediately known how Richard is related to Albert but it was noted that both use "T" as middle initial. Vicencio also charged that the HPCDC president’s letter to Torres was publicized with the innuendo that the bidding process was a hoax or was rigged "because you imply this in your letter."

"Since the documents submitted in the bidding appeared to be authentic and signed by a person who appeared in the Constructor’s [sic] license as duly authorized, we will pursue whatever legal recourse is available to us," said Vicencio in a thinly veiled warning.

Vicencio’s arraignment on the case was reset by the Sandiganbayan for May 28 after government prosecutors filed a supplemental motion to include the alleged new evidence against the mayor and his co-respondents.