SC affirms decision on Stradcom vs government case

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court has affirmed its August 2011 decision passing on to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court the task of settling the bid of information technology firm Stradcom Corporation to compel the government to pay them P1.2 billion in fees.

In a resolution released Monday, the high court said “it was proper for the Republic (of the Philippines) to file [its action] before the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City that has jurisdiction over the action.”

The high court added that the motion filed by the group of Cezar Quiamb is a reiteration of the arguments already discussed and acted upon in its August ruling.

“The motion raises no new and substantial arguments requiring a reconsideration of the court’s August 23, 2011 resolution,” the high court said.

Stradcom went to the high court after Judge Edgar Dalmacio Santos of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court upheld Land Transportation Office chief Virginia Torres’ decision to withhold the agency’s payments to Stradcom, now totaling P1.2 billion.

The fund is currently held in escrow with the Land Bank of the Philippines, to be released when the intracorporate dispute at Stradcom—between chair Quiambao and businessman Bonifacio Sumbilla—is resolved.