Caterer sues Cebu City Hall for P5.2 M meal packs

TWO years after the barangay elections, a catering company has yet to collect P5.2 million from Cebu City Hall for  packed meals they supplied to election personnel.

A civil suit for collection of money  was filed against Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and  his financial advisor Ofelia Oliva by Cebu Red Carpet Catering Serices (CRCCSI) for failing to pay the amount.

The caterer also  asked the Regional Trial Court in Cebu  to make the city pay an annual interest of 12 percent from October. 2010 until the amount is fully paid along with lawyer’s fees and litigation costs.

In  Oct. 12, 2010 letter request,  Oliva and Cebu City south district election officer Edwin Cadungog told the chairperson of the Bids and Awards Committee there was time to have the packed meals procured through public  bidding.

The company served the meals based on  credit to the Board of Election Inspectors, City Hall and Commission on Election (Comelec) employees, policemen and other staff members who served 85 polling precincts.

From Oct. 23 to 25, 2010, packed meals worth P5,208,600 were  distributed by the private caterer.

To date, the Cebu City government has not paid for the meals.

Cadungog, the Cebu City election officer,  wasn’t impleaded in the complaint.

Since the defendants refused to pay, the caterer  to file a case in court.

Mayor Rama yesterday said he would refer the matter to the City Legal Office for action. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol and Correspondent Joy Cherry Quito