CEBU, Philippines – Self-styled anti-graft crusader Crisologo Saavedra is asking the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to investigate the so-called "midnight contract" allegedly entered into by the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA).
In his complaint, Saavedra said the MCIAA board violated the government procurement reform law when it hired the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as consultant in the purchase of the Instrument Landing and Distance Measurement Equipment (ILS/DME) worth $2.2 million allegedly without competitive bidding.
He also alleged that the board committed technical malversation when it transferred the $2.2 million to ICAO "putting it into risk against the policy of COA and in violation of RA 9184."
Saavedra said the country's procurement law does not allow bidding of government project outside the Philippines such as what reportedly happened in the purchase of the equipment.
He alleged the MCIAA board abused its power and discretion and violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act when it allowed ICAO to conduct the bidding and allowing it further to disburse MCIAA corporate funds.
"May we respectfully urge the Ombudsman Visayas to conduct immediate investigation and stop the illegal transaction, recall the P2.2 million USD from ICAO to safeguard the funds from risk and for the MCIAA to conduct another bidding and cancel the contract and blacklist ICAO from entering into contract with the MCIAA for the alleged transaction which is disadvantageous to the government," the complaint reads.
Named in the complaint are MCIAA board members Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Valeriano Avila, Renato Osmeña, Winglip Chang, and Gordon Joseph; MCIA General Manager Danilo Francia; Romeo Bersonda, ICAO and Philox (Philippines Inc.).
In an interview with The Freeman, Gordon said Saavedra is just showing his ignorance and insisted that they did not violated any law because a bidding was actually conducted internationally to hire a consultant for the project.
The Freeman tried, but failed to contact the other respondents. Garcia and Avila are currently outside the country. (FREEMAN)