"Kumatok na, overpriced pa..."

ANG ITINAMPOK KONG ARTIKULO TUNGKOL SA MITSUBISHI CANTER ROSA NUNG LUNES "STIRRED A HORNET’S NEST."

I received many comments from readers all criticizing the way the said vehicle was purchased in haste resulting in losses for the government.

Nagcomment ako na ang pagbili ng sasakyang ito "was cursed from the day it began." Ang isang government purchase na milyon ang halaga, sa ilalim ng patakaran ng Commission on Audit ay dapat magdaan sa isang public bidding. Ang pagbili ng Canter na ito ay hindi man lan isang negotiated bid.

Si Arhilles M. Yulo, Supply Officer III ay hindi nagpadala ng written invitation to bid, ang ginawa nitong taong ito ay tumawag lamang sa telepono at humingi ng quotation sa mga kilalang distributor ng Mitsubishi na nagbebenta ng Canter Rosa na 26 seater. May certification ako na pirmado niya na ganito ang kanyang ginawa.

Agad namang inaprubahan ni dating DOJ Sec. Merceditas Gutierrez at pinirmahan ang voucher. Mula sa kanyang Intelligence Fund, inilipat sa Department of Budget and Management.

Nakakuha ang "CALVENTO FILES" ng kopya ng report mula kay Usec ERNESTO PINEDA, na nakadetalye kung ano ang nangyari sa brand new vehicle na ito ng kanilang dalhin para sa isang official function sa Baguio City. Basahin nating lahat.

Republika ng Pilipinas

KAGAWARAN NG KATARUNGAN

Department of Justice

Manila

RE: REPORT ON THE "BOGDOWN" OF DOJ MITSUBISHI CANTER IN BAGUIO CITY

1.On March 14, 2005 the undersigned requested the use of the DOJ Mitsubishi Canter from Asst. Secretary Elvira P. Atanacio for use in Baguio City in connection with the Dialogue with the Fiscals of Baguio City, Benguet, Pangasinan and La Union. The Dialogue was held at the DOJ cottage on the following dates March 20 and 21. Asst. Secretary EPA approved the use of the DOJ Mitsubishi Canter.

2. On March 22, 2005, at the Naguillan Road in Baguio City, the Mitsubishi Canter suddenly stopped following a loud sound emanating from the engine portion thereof.

3. The Canter driver William Cardenas checked the engine portion by removing the top cover of the engine. He discovered that the two (2) fan belts were displaced. Fiscal Ramsey Sidaypan of Baguio city who was with undersigned for a mechanic who is personally known to him to check what was wrong. The mechanic examined the engine and told that he cannot repair it, because the problem is with the pulley and crankshaft. Moreover, he said that the Mitsubishi Canter is still under warranty. Therefore, he advised us that it must be brought to the Mitsubishi Office in Baguio City.

4. The Mitsubishi Canter was towed in — Mitsubishi Office Baguio City. I paid three thousand pesos (P 3,000.00) for the service of the tower.

5. The Mitsubishi technicians where the Canter was entrusted for check-up purposes said that they did not have necessary spare parts so they have to contact Manila Mitsubishi Suppliers.

6. I instructed the driver to report the incident immediately to DOJ. He was able to communicate with the one in charge with the maintenance in DOJ who suggested that I better advance the expenses for repairs. However, I learned that the Canter cannot be finished in one day. It would take weeks.

7. Then we called up the personnel of the Union Motors UN Avenue informing them that the Mitsubishi Canter had an engine trouble and was towed to Mitsubishi Baguio City and we requested them to help us.

8. We were informed by the Baguio office that it would take about two weeks to complete the documentation on the implementation of the warranty and for the changing of the engine parts involved.

9. We returned to the Manila by renting two vehicles from Baguio City.

Recommendations: Considering that the Mitsubishi Canter is supposed to be brand new. An investigation should be conducted on the condition on the quality of the engine of said vehicle. What happened is very unusual for brand new vehicles, accidents could have been caused.

April 4, 2005

Ernesto Pineda

Under Secretary

BATAY SA REPORT nitong si Usec Pineda, hindi lamang kumatok at tumirik itong brand new na Canter, delikado pa pala itong maaksidente sila. Buti na lang hindi sila nahulog sa bangin.

Kung hindi pa kayo nalalaglag sa upuan ninyo, nakakuha rin ako ng kopya ng mga quotations mula sa Mitsubishi Dealers gaya ng Diamond Motors, Citimotors kung saan mas mura hindi hamak kaysa sa binayad ni Sec. Merceditas Gutierrez na P2.5 Million Pesos. Pareho rin ang specifications at 2005 model.

Sa Diamond Motor Corporation ang isang bagong Mitsubishi Canter FE639 Traveller ay nagkakahalaga lamang ng P2,150,000.00, Simple Arithmetic will show you the difference of P350,000 in savings para sa DOJ at sa kaban ng bayan.

Sa Citimotors, Inc., Cor Pasong Tamo & Don Bosco Sts., Makati City, ang isang 2005 Mitsubishi Rosa Traveller na 29 seater, 23 reclining seats with 6 jump seats ay nagkakahalaga naman ng P2,390,000.00 kasama na ang LTO registration.

Mas mura naman ng P110,000.00 pesos kaysa sa nabili nila Madame Mercy.

Ngayon, meron akong quotation na galing dun mismo sa Union Motors Corporation sa Paco, Manila kung saan inorder nila Sec. Gutierrez itong Canter na kumatok ang presyo para sa parehong modelo ay P2,300,000 lamang. Nakapirma ang Sales Manager na si Wilson V. Sy.

MY GULAY, mas mura ng P200,000 pesos. Paano nangyari yun? Mercy, mercy me, Madame Gutierrez. Nabukulan yata ang DOJ ng P200,000.

2005 model mas mura ng P200,000 pesos. May kickback kaya dito mga kaibigan?

Under the principle of command responsibility si dating DOJ Sec. Gutierrez ang dapat panagutin sa bagay na ito. Kung hindi sana kumatok yung makina, hindi na mabubuko. May tawag dyan, "KARMA" dahil sa ayos ang lahat.

Nakatakda sana akong makipag-meeting kay Atty. Lourdes Lim, Auditor ng DOJ mula sa Commission of Audit subalit sa hindi inaasahang dahilan, bigla na lamang itong nag-cancel ng appointment. Masama daw ang pakiramdam niya. Bakit kaya? Alam kong sinabi niya sa akin na meron mga taong tumitira sa kanya sa loob mismo ng DOJ dahil sinisita niya. Trabaho niya kasi ito. Bakit kaya nag-cancel? Natakot kaya si Atty Lim? Kanino siya natakot?

Marami na siyang sinabi sa akin nung nakausap ko siya sa telepono at sigurado kong marami ang hindi matutuwa sa mga binanggit niya sa akin. Gusto n’yo bang malaman kung ano ang mga ito?

Nais kong sabihin na kung gustong magbigay ng pahayag si Sec. Merceditas Gutierrez, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel ni PGMA, bukas ang aking tanggapan para sa iyo.

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