Davide: No need to meet with Balili contractor

CEBU, Philippines - Governor Hilario Davide III sees no need to meet with the owner of the Supreme ABF Construction, the construction company that supplied the back-filling materials for the controversial Balili property.

Davide pointed out that he already filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman while the contractor also threatened to sue the Provincial Government for non-payment.

“What’s the point? Ako gud kihante, (I am the complainant),” said Davide, who filed a case last December against former Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and 11 others, including Supreme ABF Construction owner Engr. Bernabe Gilbor.

Gilbor went to the governor’s office last Tuesday but Davide was still in another meeting.

In an interview with the media, Gilbor said he wanted to speak with Davide to personally hear from the governor the reason why they have decided not to pay him the balance of P6.8 million which the provincial government reportedly owes him for the back-filling services he has done in agreement with the province.

Gilbor said that the contract for the services went through the proper process starting with the bidding.

But Davide yesterday stood by his decision following the recommendation of Provincial Legal Officer Orvi Ortega not to pay the company since it did not pass through the Provincial Board and that the back-filling activity was done in an area under litigation.

Gilbor said that he did not know about the case but Davide said this was impossible.

Davide said he does not know how the whole process went through but said that the contractor should have had “due diligence” considering that the property was a controversial area.

Since Bernabe initially said he is considering the filing of a case against the Provincial government for deciding not to pay the contractor, Davide said there’s no need for them to meet.

Davide added that they will wait for the anti-graft office’s decision on the case before deciding on the possible demand for the contractor to return the initial P27 million which the province has paid for services rendered in the Balili property.

“Not yet until that case in the Ombudsman is resolved. Naa naman gud nang kasoha gud. Let’s wait for the resolution of the case.” — (FREEMAN)