BOBBY NALZARO:
Nalzaro reveals that self-styled anti-graft crusader Crisologo Saavedra is thinking of filing charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against members of the City’s bids committee and Barangay Kasambagan Chief Franklin Ong for conflict of interest. Ong’s company, Pasajero Motors Corp., reportedly won in the bidding for the lease of garbage trucks for the City’s garbage collection. Pamocor initially delivered 21 units of garbage trucks at P700 per hour lease.
Self-styled anti-graft crusader Crisologo Saavedra is contemplating of filing charges before the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman against members of the Cebu City Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) and Kasambagan Barangay Captain Franklin Ong for “conflict of interest.” This, after Ong’s company, Pasajero Motors Corp. (Pamocor), participated in and won the bidding for the lease of garbage trucks for the city’s garbage collection. Pamocor initially delivered 21 units of garbage trucks at P700 per hour.
Ong is a known close friend, political ally and campaign fund contributor to the “former political has-been” and the latter’s Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK). He once headed the Liga ng mga Barangay Kagawad in Cebu City. His company won last May’s bidding for the month of June for the collection of the city’s garbage following the disqualification of his competitor, Jomara Konstruck Company. He has been dealing with the City Government during the previous terms of the “former political has-been” like supplying butane, asphalt products and garbage trucks. Remember the controversial Hino dump trucks, which were all brand new but were found to be defective? Those were Ong’s.
Saavedra said he will file charges against BAC officials headed by Ronald Malocora and Ong for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act, and RA 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991.
He cited Section 47 of the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of RA 9184, which states: “Disclosure of Relationship; ‘All bids shall be accompanied by a sworn affidavit of the bidder that it is not related to the head of the procuring entity, members of the BAC, the technical working group (TWG) and the BAC secretariat, the head of PMO or the end user unit, and the project consultants, by consanguinity or affinity up to the third civil degree. Failure to comply with the aforementioned provision shall be ground for the automatic disqualification of the bid in consonance with Section 40 of this IRR.”
He also cited Section 89, Article 179 of RA 7160: “Prohibited Business and Pecuniary interest; ‘It shall be unlawful for any local government official or employee, directly or indirectly, to; a). Engage in any business transaction with the local government unit in which he is an official or an employee or over which he has power of supervision, or with any of its authorized boards, agents, or attorneys, where money is to be paid, or award the contract to the said bidder.’”
Saavedra was responsible for the filing of graft charges against former governor and now Third District Rep. Gwen Garcia for the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center, which were eventually dismissed by the Sandiganbayan due to technicalities, and the anomalous purchase of the Balili property in Naga City, which is still pending before the anti-graft court. Well, we know already the connection and closeness of the “former political has-been” and Mr. Ong. And I can even say without fear and contradiction that Ong’s participation in City Hall’s transactions and cornering almost all of the supplies and contracts there has the clearance of the power that be. Can the BAC refuse if there is an order from the “higher ups” to accommodate Ong? Mahulog na lang og bidding-bidding nang ilang bidding diha sa City Hall. You know, its “payback” time.
Ong has also no delicadeza. Otherwise, he should not have participated in City Hall transactions because of his closeness to the power that be. But do you know that there are only three businessmen close to the power that be who have been cornering all the big transactions in City Hall? Just ask former councilor Jun Pe. He knows everything at City Hall.
This businessman should not have participated in City Hall transactions because of his closeness to the powers that be