CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Peking-style fried chicken was served during the inaugural catering of President Benigno Aquino III at Quirino Grandstand and in the party at the Quezon City Memorial Circle.
This was stated in the statement of Ernesto “Jojo” Viray, a friend and a co-volunteer of Noynoy Aquino for President Movement (NAPM)-Pampanga Chapter coordinator Alejandra “Sandy” Quiwa-Bansil.
A day after Joseph Trajano of JLT Catering Services assailed Bansil for failing to settle the P1.2 million balance of the P2.2 million catering contract, the NAPM coordinator alleged that Trajano breached their contract by serving only bread and water.
The contract calls for 50,000 packs consisting of chicken, bread buns and water.
But Viray said he personally witnessed the distribution of the food, consisting of one piece fried chicken, one piece bread bun and one (350 ml.) bottled water. This is contrary to the claim of Bansil that only bread and water was distributed during the event.
Viray said he personally knew Trajano and Quiwa-Bansil.
In his affidavit submitted to Trajano’s counsel Sylvia Flores, Viray said: “…I was tasked by Alejandra Quiwa-Bansil to oversee the distribution of the food at the Quirino Grandstand… During the said distribution, I even received a call from Alejandra Quiwa-Bansil asking me to deliver some food packs to her at Manila Hotel, to which I acceded… Quiwa-Bansil gave instructions over the phone to Joseph Trajano to distribute [remaining] food packs at Quezon City Memorial Circle.”
For his part, Trajano lashed at Bansil for her “alibis” and alleging that only bread and water was served during the President’s inaugural.
“She knows we have witnesses and she cannot deny that,” Trajano said. He is also set to file formal charges against Bansil today, Monday.
Chicken leg quarters and 335 boxes of cooked chicken weighing 15 kilos each were stored from June 24 to 29 at the Alma Refrigeration and Cold Storage in Barangay San Agustin, this city, under the account of JLT Catering Services.
The total amount of the stored chicken, including trucking fees and handling charges, was P527,933.15.
The statement of account addressed to JLT Catering showed that payments were made in cash by Trajano on June 24 (P100, 000) and July 15 (P427,933.15).
Trajano said the stored chicken was exactly what was served at the inauguration.
“Her allegations are baseless. Why doesn’t she (Bansil) just settle the account? So many people are affected by what she is doing,” he quipped. (Jovi T. De Leon)