Roxas lauds cancellation of anomalous P1.4B heavy equipment procurement project

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) should open a new public bidding for its P1.4-billion rehabilitation project and pursue the undertaking despite setbacks caused by the original anomalous bidding, Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said today.

Roxas made the statement as he insisted that the bidding and awards committee that awarded the original bidding results for the heavy machineries procurement project, should be revamped, and the members of the original committee prosecuted for violating bidding laws.

"Mahalagang ibalik ang tiwala ng publiko sa ating pamahalaan (It is important to restore public trust in our government)," he said.

The senator insisted documentary evidence would prove NIA favored the two companies despite their inability to meet a key bidding requirement that its Bids and Awards Committee itself imposed.

The Visayan senator said it is still not too late for NIA to hold a new round of public bidding and fast-track the process to allow the delivery of the needed heavy equipment machineries within the dry season.

"Makakahabol pa rin naman kung magkakaroon ng bagong bidding ngayon. Siguraduhin lang nilang transparent ang lahat at walang anomalya, wala naman ng magiging delays sa project na ito (It is not too late for a new bidding. NIA just have to make sure that everything is transparent and above-board and this project could proceed without delays)," he said.

Salazar had announced the cancellation of the auction for heavy irrigation equipment worth about P1.4 billion after a disqualified bidder filed a case in court questioning the bidding held for the undertaking. He had said the delays in the project had made uncertain the procuring of the equipment in time for the restoration of irrigation facilities during the dry season.

Roxas had earlier sought an inquiry by the Senate blue ribbon committee into the anomalous bidding for NIA's planned purchase of P1.4 billion worth of heavy equipment, exposing at the same time the undue favor given by the agency to two disqualified contractors and the disqualification from the bidding of the industry's top heavy equipment suppliers.

Monday, April 13, 2009 | posted in anti-graft and corrupt practices act, da, mar roxas, nia, philippines | 0 comments [ More ]

Senator Roxas: GMA must stop corruption, misuse of power now

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today said President Arroyo must now stop corruption in her administration and give up efforts to stay in power beyond 2010 or face the wrath of a people fed up with graft-tainted controversies and the blatant misuse of power of government officials.

"I warn the present administration about the clear signals of a systems' failure in almost several fronts of governance. The plunderers are not being put in jail. The hungry are not being served. The victims of social and criminal injustice are not being given their due. The nation is extremely dissatisfied with the national management and leadership because the people see power being exercised not to their interest but to the interest of a chosen few," he said as he recalled the circumstances that led to the first EDSA people power.

He said with President Arroyo seemingly ignoring corruption scandals swamping her administration and her allies pursuing constitutional amendments to lift term limits, the activist attitude within Filipinos are being silently stirred into action, a situation which he said could become uncontrollable because of the "incessant and seemingly insurmountable ailment of corruption and the misuse of power."

"The biggest cause of military adventurism is the plunder of the people's money by those in power combined by brazen attempts to perpetuate themselves beyond the limits of the Constitution," he said, noting that, "today, observers here and abroad have already labeled our nation as a failing democracy. The scandals are rife in the midst of an economic crisis crying out for the full and undistracted attention of government. Hunger mounts and crime is up. Peace is not at hand," he pointed out.

"President Arroyo has no more time to wait. She must cut corruption and renounce perpetuation in power with decisive acts and clear words. As in the months leading to February 1986, she must not court adventurism from those who hold the monopoly of force in our society," he stressed.

The Ilonggo senator said that with government systems beginning to show signs of failing, similar to the country's situation months and years before the 1986 uprising, "the next stage is the collapse of institutions. When institutions collapse, the entire Republic follows."

"Nevertheless, I have high hopes that our democracy is secure, mainly because the Filipino people have so much faith in it, because they have proven so many times in the past that they will never sacrifice democracy in the altar of expediency and self-serving gain," he said.

"On this day in 1986, the Filipino people won against dictatorship owing largely to the valiant stand of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The young officers at the helm of the EDSA revolution were daring and selfless. We extol them today not because we believe that martial adventurism is a cure to a ruined democracy, but because we believe that even at the darkest moments when all hope seems lost for freedom, there are valiant Filipinos who are willing to lay down life and honor to preserve it."

Thursday, February 26, 2009 | posted in anti-graft and corrupt practices act, edsa, euro generals controversy, fertilizer fund scam, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president, world bank | 0 comments [ More ]

Senator Roxas: Corruption of Arroyo gov't shaming Filipinos abroad

Filipinos living in the United States and other parts of the world have become unwilling victims of the Arroyo administration's corrupt reputation, Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today said.

Roxas made the statement after getting a letter from a Filipino expatriate now living in Winnipeg, Canada, who said Filipinos in his community there back the ongoing Senate inquiry into the findings of corrupt practices by the World Bank (WB) involving government infrastructure projects.

"Hindi lang tayong mga Pinoy na naninirahan dito sa ating bansa ang napapahiya sa kagarapalan ng gobyernong ito. Pati ang mga kababayan natin sa ibang bansa, lalo na sa Amerika, ay suklam na suklam na sa malawakang pangungurakot ng mga alipores ni GMA (Filipinos now living abroad are being insulted because of the brazen corruption in this government. Filipinos abroad, especially Fil-Ams, despise the dishonesty of GMA's allies)," he said.

"Kahihiyan sa buong mundo ang dinala ni GMA sa ating bansa mula ng manungkulan siya sa Malakanyang. Sunod-sunod na kontrobersiya at iskandalo ang kinasangkutan ng kanyang mga alipores, at kahit isa man sa kanila'y walang nasakdal (GMA has brought nothing but international shame to our country since she first occupied Malacanang. Numerous scandals have hit her government but none of her allies have been investigated or prosecuted.)," the Ilonggo senator said.

The country's honor and prestige, he reiterated, could only be restored if President Arroyo musters the political will to order the investigation and prosecution of her allies and relatives--including her husband, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo--who have been dragged into all sorts of corruption scandals since she assumed the presidency in January 2001.

The latest controversy to hit the country is the World Bank's finding of collusive practices among contractors and government officials in the rigged bidding for road projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways, among other agencies.

The decision of the international lending body to bar the participation of three Filipino contractors and seven Chinese firms in any of its funded projects in the country has revived global attention on the corrupt and illegal activities of government officials and leaving the impression that such acts are condoned or even permitted by the President herself.

Canada-based Johnny de Leon has written Roxas, lauding him for defending the honor and integrity of the nation.

"Una ang paghanga ko sa pakikipaglaban mo na mailabas ang katotohanan na pilit itinatago at pinagtatakpan ng mga asong ulol sa Malacanang. Karangalan talaga ito ng lahat ng Pilipino, hindi lang ng ating mga kababayan na nasa Pilipinas kundi kami rin na mga Pinoy na naninirahan sa ibang bansa," he said in his electronic mail sent to Roxas.

"Napakasakit isipin na ang mga kapatid ko at pamilya nila diyan na nagkukumahog sa pagta-trabaho ng marangal para lang may mailaman sa tiyan ay madadamay na mawalan ng dangal dahil lamang sa pagnanakaw ng iilang tao. Basta sinabing Pilipino, kahit pa yong bagong panganak damay na 'yon," he added.

De leon said Filipinos worldwide have lost their integrity because of the rampant corruption in government. He narrated one instance when Filipinos in his community boycotted a supermarket after one of its Canadian workers confronted a young child for picking a candy in the sweets section and shouting at him "You all Filipinos are thieves!"

He said Filipinos left the grocery store after hearing the invective and the next day, they surrounded the vicinity with placards condemning the discrimination. The store owner, he added, apologized days later.

"Paano nagkaroon ng ganong mentality ang dayuhang tinderang ito kung hindi niya nabasa o napanood sa TV ang mga kurakutan diyan sa atin. Mas maganda pa noong panahon ni Marcos, kung totoo man, si Marcos lang ang nagnanakaw pero marami namang nakitang naipagawa, ngayon lahat halos ng may utang na loob si Gloria na ipinuwesto niya sa gobyerno, walang takot magnakaw, pinaka mandarambong 'yung asawa niya, naniniwala ako na ang kumikilos ng pailalim ay asawa ni Gloria," the Fil-Am said.

"Ano na ang ginagawa ng napakaraming Pilipino, hindi ito kahihiyan ng mag-anak lang ng Arroyo sa buong mundo, na ang kapal ng mukha ay makapal pa sa gulong ng eroplano, kahihiyan ito ng bawat isang Pilipino, nasa Pilipinas man o nasa ibang lupalop ng mundo na katulad ko," he stressed.

Roxas said it is not too late for President Arroyo to redeem herself, but she will have to muster political will to bring to justice all those who have shamed the country.

"Patuloy pa rin ang pagsasawalang-bahala sa dangal ng ating bansa. Mababago pa kaya ang pananaw kay GMA ng ating mga kabababayan, lalo na ang mga nagsasakripisyo sa ibang bansa? (The disregard of the country's honor continues. Can GMA still revive her reputation among Filipinos, especially those toiling hard in other countries?)," he stressed.

"Mahalaga ang dangal ng ating bansa. At bilang pangulo, responsibilidad niyang panatilihing malinis ang dangal na ito (Our country's honor is important. As president of this country, it is her responsibility to preserve our reputation)," he added.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 | posted in anti-graft and corrupt practices act, canada, dpwh, johnny de leon, mar roxas, mike arroyo, pgma, philippines, president, world bank | 0 comments [ More ]

Senator Roxas bares another bid-rigging, collusion in National Irrigation Administration project

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas has sought an inquiry into another anomaly-tainted bidding process, this time involving the purchase of p1.4 billion worth of earth-moving equipment by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

"Isa na namang halimbawa ito ng katiwalian, ng anomalya na laganap dito sa administrasyong ito. Lahat nitong mga bidding na ito ay may kasamang anomalya na kung saan overpriced at mas pinili ang mas mahal kesa dun sa mura (This is another proof of this government's corruption. All these bidding processes ay accompanied with anomalies where everything is overpriced)," he said.

Roxas has filed PS Resolution No. 880 seeking an inquiry by the Senate blue ribbon committee into the alleged bid rigging and collusive practices of two firms with the NIA-Bids and Awards Committee (NIA-BAC) in connection with the acquisition of 139 units of hydraulic excavator, crawler type 0.80M3 capacity; 69 units of hydraulic excavator, crawler type 0.50M3 capacity; and 15 units of truck tractor with trailer for the repair of irrigation and drainage canals nationwide.

The senator cited data received and gathered by his office showing how the NIA-BAC allegedly manipulated the bidding for the purchase of the P1.4 billion-worth of equipment "precisely to limit the number of participants in the bid project."

He noted how the NIA set up stringent rules and an impractical bidding period during the invitation to bid process, which it published only once in December 16, 2008 in an advertisement that came out in one of the country's broadsheet newspapers. The public bidding was scheduled to be held last January 16, 2009.

He said that because of the short and limited period for the purchase of the bid documents, plus the fact that the announcement came out too close to the Christmas break, only a number of contractors were able to submit their bid proposals.

"Talagang ginawa ang lahat, inayos, minanipula ang mga patakaran para ma-etsa-puwera 'yung mga lehitimong nasa negosyong ito, para mapaboran ang mga favored na mga kontratista (They did everything to manipulate the bidding and to disqualify more qualified firms to be able to award the contract to their favore4d contractors)," he lamented.

He said the NIA-BAC committed violations of the general principles of the Government Procurement Act and violated the principle of streamlined procurement process when it disqualified bidders on its own discretion.

The Ilonggo senator added the NIA-BAC violated the system of competitiveness "thereby raising a well-grounded belief of collusion" when it awarded the contract to the winning bidders, Transport Equipment Corporation (TEC) and Civic Merchandising Inc. (Civic) despite the fact that their respective bid prices were 20% higher than that offer4ed by the disqualified bidders.

Roxas said that because of the irregular award of the contract to TEC and Civic, "the possible loss to the government is P300 million, more or less" which he said made the entire process disadvantageous to the interest of the government and the general public.

He insisted the bidding must be recalled for being "utterly flawed" and a new and more transparent bidding process be held to "assure competitiveness, thereby insuring the4 best interest of the government and the public."

"Talagang mabaho itong transaksyon na ito at hahalungkatin natin ito. Tayo na naman ang magbabayad nito. Babayaran natin, una, 'yung ibinili nitong mga equipment na ito. Pangalawa, magbabayad muli tayo sa matataas na presyo ng bigas. Tayo palagi, ang pangkaraniwan na tao palagi ang kawawa sa mga anomalyang nakikita natin sa administrasyong ito (This transaction really stinks and we will look deeper into this. We will pay for this, first for the purchase of the equipment. And second, we will pay for the higher cost of rice. It is always the ordinary citizens who pay for the anomalous and corrupt practices of this government)," he said.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 | posted in anti-graft and corrupt practices act, mar roxas, nia, philippines, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Senator Roxas: SEC guilty of willful negligence, incompetence

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas yesterday chided officials of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for their "willful negligence" and incompetence in protecting the interests of pre-need plan holders and investors during a hearing conducted by the Senate on the state of the pre-need industry.

"The weakest charge against the SEC is that it has been negligent. That's the kindest assessment. They have been negligent, lazy and passive. 'Yan ang pinakamagaan. Pero dahil hindi ito ang pinaka-unang pangyayari na ganito, masasabi that the SEC was not only negligent but they have been willfully aiding and abetting the defrauding of the people by turning a blind eye, by willfully ignoring all of these signals or signs that they should have been stricter," the chairman of the committee said.

He noted the statement of SEC Chairperson Fe Barin that while the Commission made sure that the interests of the pre-need plan holders were protected, it likewise tried to balance the concerns of the pre-need companies.

She likewise blamed supposed restrictions in the SEC Charter, which she said tied them down in stopping the financial problems of the industry.

"I am really saddened by your response. Talagang nalulungkot ako. Naghuhugas kayo ng kamay. Umiiwas kayo sa responsibilidad. Kayo ang chairperson ng SEC. Sumulat na kami ng batas, iyong Pre Need Code, naipasa na ito sa Senado pero hindi pa na-a-aksyunan sa Kamara. Pero hindi ito excuse para sa ginawa ninyo. The SEC has been given the widest latitude to regulate this. Kung nung 2005 nakita na ninyo ang problema, at na-analyze na ninyo ang problema, maaaring nagpatigil na kayo ng pagbebenta ng mga plans pero tuloy-tuloy ang ligaya kaya ngayon meron na namang ganito," Roxas reprimanded Barin.

"Hindi ito ang unang pangyayari na ganito, nagkaron na tayo ng CAP, ng PEP, ng maraming kumpanya na preneed na pare-pareho ang nangyayari. Masasabi na natin na captured na sila (SEC), may sabwatan na sila. Hindi na nila nakikita ang mga interests ng planholders," he added.

Roxas also chided Director Jose Aquino of the SEC's Non-Traditional Securities and Instruments Department for failing to protect the public's interest in the cased of Legacy Consolidated Inc., owned by businessman Celso delos Angeles, when it had reported its woes already three years ago.

Aquino told senators he "met with (Legacy shareholders) and gave them directives" but admitted that only "some" of these directives were complied with by Legacy Consolidated.

Delos Angeles said his company continued to sell pre-need plans until November 2008, and shortly thereafter, in December 2 last year, applied with the SEC for corporate dissolution, claiming that the company has become insolvent.

"Nagsabi na nga sila na nagkaka-problema na sila pero pinayagan niyo pa rin silang magbenta ng mga plans. You, SEC, you're supposed to be the bantay of the interest ng lahat ng magulang na namili nitong Legacy na ito. Tapos matutuklasan natin na nalaman niyo ito 3 years ago pero wala kayong ginawa kundi sumulat, mag-miting o kaya mag-direct. Pero toothless, fangless, walang ngipin kasi tuloy ang ligaya. Hanggang first week of December na sabi ni Mr. Delos Angeles, hindi na namin kaya ito. Kasi yung mga bangko na pag-aari din niya, bangkarote na din. Ito din ang pinag-invest-an ng mga trustee na ito," Roxas said.

"Malinaw na malinaw na hindi lamang malambot, hindi lamang katamaran, hindi lamang incompetence, pero mukhang willful negligence na talaga. Talagang nagtatakip mata sila, talagang tinitingnan ang side ng kumpaya laban sa side ng mga preneed plan holders," he stressed.

He added: "Parang lagi na lang silang nabubulaga, lagi na lang silang naiiwan sa kangkungan. Dahil hindi nila talaga alam ang trabaho nila. O kaya, dahil hindi ito ang kauna-unahang pangyayaring ito, talagang nagtatakip mata sila, nagpapa-inosente sila kasi ayaw nilang disiplinahin, ayaw nilang proteksyunan ang interest ng mga planholders dahil ang proteksyon na kailangan ng planholders ang siyang sasagabal o magpapahigpit sa mga operasyon ng mga kumpanyang ito."

Asked what charges could be filed against SEC officials, Roxas said they could be slapped with negligence, dereliction of duty and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The Senate committees on trade and commerce and banks will resume hearings on the pre-need industry's financial woes next week.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009 | posted in anti-graft and corrupt practices act, celso de los angeles, college assurance plan, fe barin, jose aquino, legacy group of companies, mar roxas, pre-need code of 2008, sec | 0 comments [ More ]