Trader wants Ombuds to probe Gwen

The whistleblower who has caused the suspension of two city mayors in Cebu and top officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways over the alleged overpricing in the procurement of the decorative lampposts is also asking the Ombudsman-Visayas to look into the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center.

Businessman Crisologo Saavedra yesterday filed a formal request with the anti-graft office asking to investigate Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and five other provincial officials over the alleged overpricing in the construction of the CICC and the alleged violation in the bidding process.

Saavedra said Architect Manuel Guanzon admitted in a radio interview that the total cost of CICC was P515 million as approved by the Cebu Provincial Board. However, Saavedra said it was discovered that the project is only worth P100 million, which covers the superstructure that was bid out legally as provided for under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Act.

The project component, which was legally bid out, was awarded to WT Construction. Saavedra claimed that through Guanzon’s admission, they were able to find out that the remaining project components were implemented through a negotiation.

Saavedra alleged that the provincial government has split the contract allegedly to avoid the proper bidding procedure.

"In lieu of the above discoveries, there was a clear perpetuation of collusion and overpricing because the legal bidding procedures were not followed and the contract has been overpriced in the amount of more or less P150 million," Saavedra said.

Saavedra quoted Guanzon as allegedly having admitted that a total of P650 million were already paid to the contractor and that an additional P280 million will be collected by the contractor as additional expenses, which Saavedra claimed that the overspending will already account to P420 million more or less.

Further, Saavedra said had the project been bid out properly, it should not have been overpriced.

Like what Saavedra did in the decorative lampposts controversy, he requested the Ombudsman to order the provincial government to cease and desist from paying the remaining balance to the contractor.

Saavedra also asked the Ombudsman to schedule a meeting with him, Garcia, provincial treasurer Roy Salubre who sits as Bids and Awards Committee chairperson, Adolfo Quiroga, BAC member; budget officer Emmy Gingoyon, project engineer Ernesto Biernes, provincial engineer Eulogio Pelayre and Bayan secretary general Armand Perez, who also acted as complainant.

Garcia could not be reached for comment, as she was in Manila to attend a meeting that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called for. – Fred P. Languido/MEEV