Ex-mayor Peewee Trinidad in hot water over building of Pasay City Mall in ‘03

MANILA, Philippines—Acting Ombudsman Orlando C. Casimiro ordered the filing of criminal case against former Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad,  and three others in connection with the anomalous bidding procedure for the construction of the Pasay City Mall and Market in 2003.

In a 33-page Resolution, Casimiro approved the filing of a criminal case against  Trinidad, former City Councilor Jose Antonio Roxas, and Non-Government Organization – Bids and Awards Committee (NGO-BAC) Representatives Joselito Manabat and Alexander Ramos. They were charged with violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Trinidad reportedly issued an Invitation to Pre-Qualify/Apply for Eligibility and to Bid for the construction of the Pasay City Mall, which had an approved budget of P500M to be funded through the issuance of Pasay City Kaunlaran Bonds.

But Trinidad allegedly requested a newspaper a few days earlier to hold the publication of the invitation pending approval by the City Council of an ordinance providing the budget for the said project.

City Ordinance No. 2864. S. of 2003 was shortly enacted authorizing the Bond Floatation by the City Government of some P500M to fund the construction of the complex. It also authorized the City Mayor to negotiate, sign and execute contracts pertinent thereto.

A second Invitation to Pre-Qualify/Apply for Eligibility and Bid was issued by Trinidad. This was published in the Examiner News and in the Weekly Views.

Trinidad as PBAC Chairman called for a meeting in January 3, 2004 of the Pasay City BAC (PBAC), and the “old” PBAC members attended.

The project was awarded to Izumo Contractors, Inc. being the lowest bidder, and a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between Cedric Lee, President of Izumo Contractors, Inc. and the City Government of Pasay through Trinidad.

“The manner in which the ‘old’ PBAC was ordered constituted and conducted itself as such by Mayor Trinidad vis-avis the bidding of the aconstruction project was highly irregular,” the resolution stated

It added that under RA 9184, the head of the procuring agency is not allowed to sit as member of the BAC.