Gwen, former airport execs sued for 2006 project

Businessman Crisologo Saavedra has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Cebu 3rd District Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia as well as former officers of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) for allegedly rigging the bidding for the construction of the airport’s administrative building in 2006.

Aside from Garcia, impleaded in Saavedra’s complaint were former MCIAA general manager Edilberto Yap; MCIAA Bids and Awards Committee members Siefredo Dublin, Bienvenido Malayang and Veronica Ordonez, and officers of two participating bidders – Dakay Construction and Development Corp. and Young Builders.

Saavedra also cited “conflict of interest” on the part of Dakay Construction owner, Pericles Dakay, who currently sits in the MCIAA board.

He said the officials violated Republic Act 9814 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

Also named as respondents are members of the MCIAA Bids and Awards Committee at the time, namely Atty. Siefredo Dublin, Bienvenido Malayang and Veronica Ordonez.

Dakay Construction had a bid offer of P119.988 million while Young Builders offered P119.78 million.

“Please take note that the financial offer of Dakay Construction and Young Builders was only P207,503, which is unrealistic for a competitive bidding a clear evidence of a buy-out or simulated moro-moro bidding,” stated the complaint dated October 13.

But despite Dakay Construction’s higher bid, the contract was eventually awarded to Young Builders by Yap, said Saavedra.