Joselito Malig

Plunder, graft complaint filed vs NIA officials for alleged bid manipulation

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) — A civil society organization advocating for good governance has filed a complaint-affidavit in the Office of the Ombudsman against certain officials of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) due to alleged bid manipulation.Dr. John Chiong, chairman and president of Task Force Kasanag (TFK), filed the complaint on March 4, Wednesday.Respondents are NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen, NIA Bids and Awards Committee-A Chairman Roberto Suguitan, and all members of NIA BAC-A.Private respondents include Sta. Clara International Corporation, and the consortium of IGWT-JAV Construction &amp; Development Corporation/ China International Water and Electric Corp. “Naka-receive tayo ng complaint that there is alleged arranged bidding na naman,” Chiong said in a press conference on Thursday. “Ginawan natin ng review matagal-tagal din. Umabot din ito ng dalawang buwan bago natin na-file kasi mahirap mag-file ng kaso na wala naman tayong ebidensya,” he added.In a statement to media, Guillen&#x27;s legal team said they have yet to receive a copy of the complaint.&quot;He will respond to the allegations in the appropriate forum once he is formally furnished with a copy,&quot; his lawyers said.They added Guillen will cooperate with the Office of the Ombudsman on the allegations.They also said Guillen &quot;remains firmly committed to the public — especially our farmers — and has full confidence in the judicial process.&quot;<div> </div><div>ALLEGED BIDDING IRREGULARITIES </div>Chiong, in the complaint-affidavit, said the complaint was sent to him by an anonymous taxpayer who claimed that the said NIA officials were involved in bidding irregularities, particularly on the project with the title “Construction of San Felipe Earthfill Dam and its Appurtenant Structures in Region 1 under Small Reservoir Irrigation Project.”The complainant supposedly said in his letter that “on the eve of the scheduled bidding, individuals allegedly connected to the BAC Technical Working Group demanded (P2 million) as a condition for the opening and acceptance of a bidder’s proposal.”Non-payment would allegedly result in the disqualification or non-opening of the bid documents, but the concerned bidder refused to give the said amount.“Despite submitting a competitive bid lower by approximately P1.1 million, the bidder was declared failed, while another contractor was awarded the project,” the complaint-affidavit read.The consortium won the bid.Also questioned was the construction of the Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project Phase II Storage Dam and its Appurtenant Structures. A bidder supposedly failed due to the absence of a special PCAB license although it already had a pending application for it and a joint venture agreement with a qualified foreign partner.  The project was awarded to Sta. Clara International Corporation.Chiong asked the Ombudsman to indict the respondents for alleged violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and plunder.He also prayed that the NIA officials be placed under preventive suspension pending investigation, and that they be slapped with appropriate administrative sanctions.   “This is a reminder sa lahat ng mga government agency na sana, na sana isipin nila they are called public servant,” Chiong said. “At, if you are a public servant, you are accountable to the public. Palagi kong inuulit-ulit yan, you are not a king and that is not your kingdom.”

A civil society organization advocating for good governance has filed a complaint-affidavit at the Office of the Ombudsman against certain officials of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) due to alleged bid manipulation.

A civil society organization advocating for good governance has filed a complaint-affidavit at the Office of the Ombudsman against certain officials of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) due to alleged bid manipulation.