LRTA execs face graft raps

A graft complaint has been filed at the Office of the Ombudsman against 10 officials of the Land Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), for allegedly giving undue advantage to a bidder for the maintenance contract of the system’s Santolan-Recto line (LRT2).

The complainant, the National Coalition of Filipino Consumers (NCFC), represented by Zosimo Paat, alleged that the LRTA officials “acted in conspiracy” to favor the joint venture of Busan-EDC by accepting its offer even after the period for the submission of bids had officially ended.

Named respondents were Jose Jobel Belarmino, the chair of the bids and awards committee (BAC), and members Amador Calado Jr., Wilfredo Alday, Jesus Jimenez, Nestor Flores, Anita Lomboya, Joseph Hagos and Adelo Jandayan. Also included were BAC secretariat members Alwinston Pillos and Michael Cueto.

“(The) respondents… blatantly, and in violation of law, gave Busan-EDC unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference in the discharge of their official (duty),” the NCFC said.

“Such blatant grant of advantage and benefit was committed through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence,” it said.

According to the group, the BAC accepted Busan-EDC’s bid documents “three minutes” after the period for the submission of bids was closed on April 22.

It said the BAC members reopened the acceptance of bids without requiring Busan-EDC to submit a written request to accept its offer and despite the formal opposition from the other bidder, the joint venture of APT-CB&T-MRAIL.