Brgy captain’s business deal with city questioned

Is Kasambagan Barangay Captain Franklyn Ong engaged in an illegal business arrangement with the Cebu City government?

Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia wants to find out.

“I want to know if there is really a violation, I want to look and see kinsa gyud ang tag-iya…Dili man pwede you engaged business in the city if you are a barangay captain,” Garcia told reporters yesterday.

Pasajero Motors Corporation, which Ong coowns, provides hauling services to the city government.

Garcia said this allegedly violates the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Garcia used to head the council’s committee on laws, ordinances, and styling.

He said he will raise the matter before the council so that Ong’s arrangement with the city government will be clarified.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Ong challenged Garcia to sue him.

“Pakihaa lang na siya if naa siya’y nakita nga violation,” he said, adding, “Wala man balaod preventing barangay officials to engage business sa City Hall. Naa bay provision? Ipa-cite niya kay bisan sukad sauna… naa may daghang kapitan ni-engage sa City Hall. Karon pa man ko nakadungog ana iyahang gisulti.”

He said any transaction or engagement he has had with the city complied with the Government Procurement Act.

In his press conference, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said Ong did not violate any law because he complied with bidding requirements.

“The worst thing is wala'y bidder; mohatag ka og pabor sa unsay nabilin. At least, naay kompetinsya, naay competition. Nangita lang siya (Garcia) og sala… simple kaayo na, but it is advantageous to the city that there's competition and you cannot say I gave him favor because napildi man siya sa bidding,” Osmeña said, referring to a P124 million hauling contract.

In fact, he said, the city government has asked the help of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in encouraging more companies to join the biddings for city projects.

The mayor also denied Garcia's allegation that he is unfair in implementing laws.

“Well, it's not true. I am not selective in enforcing the law. I implement the law to everybody apil ang BOPK, apil si Rico (Enrico Dionson, chief executive officer and owner of the popular Rico's Lechon), BOPK man na. You (Dionson) listen to him sa iyahang text… how come I am not defending him?” Osmeña pointed out.

Ong is allied with Osmeña's party, Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

In a separate interview, Bids and Awards Committee head Ronaldo Malacora said that Pamocor has complied with bidding requirements.

Pursuant to Republic Act 9184, BAC will post the schedule of public bidding at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System site.

PhilGEPS is the online procurement portal of the Philippine government. Malacora assured the public that the city government observes transparency in every transaction.

“And then, besides ana, ang pagpirma sa documents on behalf sa Pamocor, dili si Franklyn Ong. Naa man iyang manager nga nagpirma sa documents,” Malacora said.

Pamocor was the city's service provider of a hauling contract amounting to P40 million from May to July this year.

It also won the P55 million rental contract, which involves 10 compactor trucks and 11 dump trucks that will operate for 24 hours.

Pamocor offered the lowest price per hour at P700 compared to the P823 per hour offer of Jomara Konstruckt Incorporated.

Pamocor passed the post-qualification stage after submitting technical, legal and financial documents.

The 21 trucks started operating yesterday, collecting garbage from barangays to the transfer station. Some of the trucks will also be used for the mayor's “Basura Mo, Sardinas Ko” project.