BUSINESSMAN Crisologo Saavedra wants the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to investigate Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) General Manager Steve Dicdican and the airport authority’s bids and awards committee (BAC) in the transaction for the supply of equipment.
Saavedra, in a complaint sent to the Ombudsman on March 3, 2020, accused Dicdican and BAC members of conspiring with Ad Lib International Sales Inc., to award the contract for supply and delivery of mobile X-ray screening scanners for MCIAA to the latter last April 2019.
The contract amounting to P196,382,000, Saavedra said, was also suspect for overpricing.
Dicdican, in a text message sent to SunStar Cebu, Wednesday, March 4, said he would welcome any investigation.
Included in the complaint were MCIAA BAC chairperson Glenn Napuli, Acting Corporate Board Secretary Cyril Apao, MCIAA OIC Cashier Luz Casejo, MCIAA Accounting Division manager Ma. Venus Casas, MCIAA manager Frolian Bonifacio, MCIAA Budget Division OIC Era Borinaga, and Ad Lib officials Romana Espinas and Maria Avancena, along with officials of the Asia United Bank Corp. Gilda Tiongco and Antonio Agcaoili.
Ad Lib is a trading firm based in Mandaluyong City.
Saavedra alleged that Dicdican and MCIAA officials made partial payment of P29,457,300 to Ad Lib last July 5, 2019, before the delivery and acceptance of the mobile vehicle x-ray screening system.
The advance payment, he said, is in violation of Presidential Decree 1445 (the Government Auditing Code of the Philippines) and Annex D of Republic Act 9184 (the Government Procurement Reform Act).
“In accordance with PD 1445, advance payment shall be made only prior to the approval of the President, and shall not exceed 15 percent of the contract amount, unless directed by the President,” read a portion of Saavedra’s complaint.
For his part, Dicdican, quoting RA 9184, said that advance payment not to exceed 15 percent of the contract amount shall be allowed, and paid within 60 calendar days from the signing of the contract, upon submission of an irrevocable letter of credit or bank guarantee issued by a universal or commercial bank.
“The equipment was procured through public bidding. Anyone with a better or cheaper equipment could have submitted a bid, including Mr. Saavedra, but he did not,” read a portion of his text message. (WBS)