CICC controversy Saavedra asks Ombuds to probe Capitol anew

CEBU, Philippines – Self-Styled anti-corruption crusader Crisologo Saavedra yesterday asked the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas to investigate the alleged anomalous transaction entered into by the Provincial Government of Cebu with the WT Construction for the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center.

In an amended complaint he filed before the anti-graft office yesterday, Saavedra asked Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol to investigate the alleged violations for the Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Law and R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act committed by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and other provincial officials involved in the construction of the CICC.

Saavedra accused the provincial officials of dishonesty and technical malversation for allowing the WT Construction to perform additional work for the CICC which is not covered by a valid contract.

He based his amended complaint on the decision of Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso that ordered the Provincial Government of Cebu to pay the contractor for the additional work on the CICC amounting to P263,263,261.41.

In his complaint, Saavedra questioned the court decision, saying that the order to pay the amount claimed by the contractor should be directed to Garcia on her private capacity.

“The transaction should be considered in a private transaction between WT Construction, Inc. and the Governor Gwendolyn Garcia where the Province of Cebu should not be ask to pay of the amount P261,217,978.80 as payment to the additional work,” Saavedra said.

He reiterated that the additional work performed by the WT Construction is a violation of the R.A. 9184 that requires approved funding, approval from the Provincial Board and contract.

Saavedra added that Garcia has also violated the anti-graft law for giving undue advantage to a private party while it is disadvantageous to the government.

He said that the governor is “guilty of misrepresentation and dishonesty which she made of her Power Point presentation on the completed expenses of the CICC.”

According to him, Garcia only presented during her Power Point presentation that the CICC only costs P573 million when in fact it will reach up to P836 million.

Saavedra threatened to file another case for technical malversation against the governor should she pay the contractor the amount awarded by the court.

The Capitol has already issued a statement that they will file a motion for reconsideration on the court decision.

Veloso, on his May 20 decision, ruled in favor of the WT Construction in the civil case for collection of sum of money it filed against the provincial government. The construction firm is collecting P261 million in additional work of the CICC.

The Capitol refused to pay the amount for lack of contract prompting the WT Construction to bring the matter before the court.

The CICC at the Mandaue Reclamation Area was built in 2006 to be the main venue of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit. It is one of the projects during the Asean Summit that were said to be overpriced but the anti-graft office is still conducting investigations into the matter.

The WTCI won the bidding for the construction of the CICC’s substructure in February 2006. After the phase 1 was completed, the contractor was awarded phase II for the superstructure.

However, the contractor proceeded with the site development and other additional works which are no longer covered with the phase II contract. — Fred P. Languido/WAB (THE FREEMAN)