Ombuds asked: Probe bidder in CCMC project

CEBU, Philippines - Companies that lost the bid for the first phase of the reconstruction project for the Cebu City Medical Center have asked the Ombudsman to investigate the bidder picked by the city government.

In a two-page letter filed last November 20, the losing bidders accused Manila-based A.M. Oreta and Company and its Cebu-based partner WTG Construction for falsifying documents, thereby violating Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

They also alleged that government officials “conspired and tolerated the violation of the law, a clear sign of bad faith, malice or gross negligence,”

The letter was signed “Bidders who also participated in the bidding”.

There were seven contractors that participated in the bidding last September 30, namely C.E. Padilla (P288.89 million), E.M. Cuerpo Inc. (P313.93 million), SCDI Gen. Construction (P281 million), WTG/A.M. Oreta emerged as the lowest bidder with P274,975,904.

The lowest winning bidder, however, was post-disqualified to undertake the project for allegedly being “non-responsive” after the Bids and Awards Committee found out that the documents submitted contained “discrepancies and false information.”

The complainants said WTG/ A.M. Oreta should be delisted from government bidding and sanctioned under Sec. 65.5 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9184, which states, “when the bidder is a juridical entity, criminal liability and the accessory penalties shall be imposed on its directors, officers or employees who actually commit any of the forgoing acts.”

“If a person previously held liable or found guilty under the provisions of the act and this IRR…a prospective bidder entity shall be disqualified to participate in any procurement activity being conducted by the government,” the letter reads further.

Documentary evidence on the alleged violations were submitted to the Bids and Awards Committee and furnished to Mayor Michael Rama, City Engineer and BAC chairman Engr. Jose Marie Poblete, Councilor Mary Ann Delos Santos, and Atty. Jose Daluz III.

PROBE ON SCRAP

Meanwhile, Rama is supporting the move of the City Council to ask the Ombudsman to also investigate accusations that a Manila-based businessmen offered a city official P2.5 million to allow them to demolish the old CCMC building in exchange of obtaining scrap metal worth P13.38 million.

Rama said he has full trust and confidence in Delos Santos and Poblete in handling the issue and assured that the demolition of the building was documented properly.

“I anticipated that this will happen mao nihatag ko og mandato nila (Poblete and Delos Santos) nga tarungon pag document kay basi paninglan ta,” Rama said.

The old CCMC building was demolished after it was found unfit for occupancy after sustaining sever damage when the magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit Central Visayas in October last year. — Kristine B. Quintas and Glenda Tapang, USJR Masscom Intern/JMO (FREEMAN)