Manila court stops BOC computerization project

MANILA, Philippines - A Manila regional trial court (RTC) has issued a 20-day temporary restraining order to stop the Bureau of Customs (BOC) from awarding a P500-million contract to computerize the agency’s operations to the winning bidder.

Manila RTC Branch 173 Judge Armando Yanga ordered the BOC to refrain from awarding the Integrated Philippine Customs System contract to the joint venture of Webb Fontaine and Grow Inc. “until the hearing of the application for preliminary injunction” filed by losing bidder Omniprime Marketing Inc., represented by company president Annabelle Margaroli.

Yanga said the petitioner succeeded in presenting evidence that it may suffer irreparable injury if the deal is awarded to Webb Fontaine and Grow Inc.

Omniprime also seeks to annul the notice of award issued by BOC to Webb Fontaine.

Among the respondents Omniprime named in its petition are BOC Commissioner Rufino Biazon; deputy commissioner Peter Manzano, who chairs the BOC’s special bids and awards committee; and committee members Simplicio Domingo, Liwayway Mendoza, Corazon Azana and Caridad Manarang.

In its petition, Omniprime said Webb Fontaine failed to fully comply with the bidding requirements because it submitted papers in which the notary public’s signature had been forged.

Lawyer Pedro Genato informed the Manila RTC that he did not notarize Webb Fontaine’s papers, Margaroli said. She claimed that a certain Joel Lapinig reportedly used Genato’s seal to notarize documents.