From readers: On CALAX, rice prices, judicial reforms, MRT-3

“The DPWH should consider the point of anti-graft crusader Marcelo Tecson — to base the award on lowest toll, not highest premium. Whether the so-called premium is P11B or P20B, once it is passed on to us consumers for full recovery, we will be paying that premium.

“Just curious, were the bidders asked to submit their toll rates over the 35-year operation? What is the traffic/vehicle volume estimate? What is the allowed recovery rate? Is the premium part of the recoverable cost? Of course, it must be!”

Jerry Quibilan: “I hope DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson, one of the best in P-Noy’s cabinet, will reevaluate the CALAX bidding, in which the spirit of the law sorely was lacking.”

Ruy Moreno: “Everybody is saying that the government lost P8b by disqualifying SMC. Isn’t it also correct that the higher the premium to the government, the higher the project cost too, thus the higher the toll would be on the consumer? The lower the government’s cash take in the beginning so lower project cost, then the easier to set a reasonable toll. Same with the Napocor’s privatized power plants: government was very happy with the cash take, but consumers suffered high rates.”

Atty. Carlo F.C. Castro: Under the Procurement Reform Act, biddings consist of two stages: first, checking the technical documents; second, opening the financials. When the DPWH saw the SMC bid bond falling short of the requirement, there was no choice but to disqualify it. At that time, DPWH did not know that SMC had the best bid.”

Victor Chan: “Amend the Procurement Act. Its pass/fail system allows agencies to favor some and disqualify other bidders.”

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Vida Visitacion, on the promotion to general of two Army commanders whose lapses led to the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, and so protested by the National Union of Journalists-Philippines (Gotcha, 25 June 2014):

“Things like this happen only in the Philippines. We’re going the wrong way.”

Roger Peña, Montebello, CA.: “Aren’t the promotion of Generals Cayton and Geslani subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments? Concerned parties ought to direct their objections there.”

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Dante Jimenez, founder, Volunteers Against Crime & Corruption, on the Ombudsman investigation of MRT-3 officials whose graft I bared:

“Congrats, more power to you. VACC will monitor the probe.”

Harry Gelacio: “Despite its resources and training, the NBI dwelt only on Vitangcol’s alleged $30-million extortion attempt from Inekon. It did not look at the aftermath. Good you did, and exposed his P517-M grant to his uncle-in-law’s firm. Kunsabagay, it was only after SOJ de Lima got Napoles’s expanded list did the NBI also expand its probe of pork barrel plunderers, something it could have done on its own.”

Atty. Socorro: “Pointless for Ombudsman and NBI to investigate the $30-M extortion try. The Czechs are no longer in Manila to testify against the extorters. Better if they investigate instead the anomalous contracts that you exposed. The SEC documents show cross ownership of fledgling firms by the influence peddlers; the MRT-3 records would prove non-maintenance.”

Patrick Lin: “Greetings from Malaysia. Your exposés of anomalies past and present inspire millions of Filipinos, including here.”

Francis Yuseco: “The country owes you a debt of gratitude for exposing the DOTC/MRT-3 crooks, who apparently were raising campaign funds for the 2016 election.”

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Atty. Ramon C., on the replacement of National Food Authority chief Orlan Calayag, the “food security czar” whom I unmasked to be a US citizen untrained and inexperienced in food logistics, and liable for rice price surges last and this June, right after the dry-season harvests and the arrival of imported rice from Vietnam:

“Whew! It took P-Noy only eight months to remove Calayag from NFA, after you exposed his unfitness (Gotcha, 23 Oct. 2013). Fast, huh? Maybe it will take P-Noy another eight months to wise up that his Liberal Party-mate, Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala, as Calayag’s patron, is calling the shots and principal cause of supply shortfalls. By then, it would be the start of another dry season harvest.”

Romeo G. David: former NFA administrator, 1992-1998: “The retail price of commercial rice is within norm if it does not exceed double the palay buying price in the last harvest season. Since P23/kg was the average palay price, rice should retail at no more than P6/kg — up to the lean two weeks before the next harvest. If commercial rice sells within norm, then we should be happy for the farmers who justly received favorable return on their labor and risk.

“NFA’s role is to influence prices through supply and demand. By injecting subsidized rice into the market, it dampens prices. With sufficient inventories, including imports, and assuming competent management and political will, there is no reason for price instability.”

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From Fr. Jerome L., on the judge who went on seven months’ paid leave, and while “away” ruled on five money cases, despite conviction and dismissal from service for graft (Gotcha 12, 14 May, 6 June 2014):

“Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen last Friday enjoined the public, particularly lawyers, to help unmask corrupt Judiciary members: ‘Seasoned lawyers who witness corruption, yet do nothing, actually are doing younger ones a disservice.’ Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno made the same appeal last year: ‘I assure you, if the cases filed are serious and supported by evidence, the axe will fall on whoever deserves it, even if close to us.’

“Question: was your documented exposé of Judge Ruiz not enough to start an SC probe of Administrator Midas Marquez? Instead of having Ruiz removed upon news of his conviction and perpetual bar by the Sandiganbayan, did not Marquez grant him successive leaves? Did not Marquez also approve his applications for deadline extension to rule on five cases while on leave? Did not the leaves mean the state paid the sacked judge P100,000 a month for seven months?

“In rejoinder he claimed that his office had recommended Ruiz’s suspension. But when asked for supporting papers, he gave you none. No action from the SC either?

“Sir, the country owes you another debt of gratitude, for exposing ‘Ma’am Arlene, the Napoles of the Judiciary’.”

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Acknowledging the many others who e-mailed, especially Fernando Vicente, Gloria Castulo, Olaf Ciachowski, Jorge Lichauco, A.C. Joaquin, Carl Vitug, Rory Palita, Joaquin Ong. Jr., Ed Maranan. Sandra U., James Pacia, Rolly B., Craft S., Bernie Hechanova.

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Catch Sapol radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., DWIZ (882-AM).

Gotcha archives on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jarius-Bondoc/1376602159218459, or The STAR website http://www.philstar.com/author/Jarius%20Bondoc/GOTCHA

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