Fraud, Deceit In Bidding MIDSAYAP MAYOR SAYS CONSTRUCTION FIRM SUBMITTED FORGED DOCUMENTS IN BIDDING

By Manny Pinol

Midsayap Mayor Romeo Arana, who has been suspended for 30 days by the Provincial Governor along with Vice Mayor Albert Garduque for rescinding a contract to build the P70-M public market, said the construction firm which won the contract submitted forged documents during the bidding and violated the terms of the Build-Transfer scheme.

Following days of efforts to contact Mayor Arana, I was finally able to get his new phone number yesterday and succeeded in getting important information on the controversial public market construction in Midsayap.

Arana, who completed his 9-year term as Mayor and vied for the Vice Gubernatorial post in 2010 but lost, said the investigating Ad Hoc Committee discovered that Marcus Construction which was awarded the contract and identified closely with a top official of the province, submitted a document which showed that it had previously undertaken a Build-Transfer Project of the Davao Doctors Hospital in Davao City.

In a document submitted by the losing bidder, RG Salanatin Engineering, however, the officials of Davao Doctors Hospital denied that Marcus Construction undertook the project.

Arana said the Midsayap Municipal Government under former Mayor Manuel Rabara and Marcus Construction also violated the terms of the Build-Transfer contract when they came up with another contract which stipulated that Marcus Construction will be paid according to actual work accomplished which is similar to a regular construction contract.

Following the findings of the Ad Hoc Committee, Arana issued an Executive Order rescinding the contract and directing the filing of criminal and graft charges against those involved in the fraudulent contract before the Ombudsman.

The Ad Hoc Committee was chaired by Garduque with Engr. Jerry Pieldad, Romeo Gorreon, Justino Marquez and Ennie Cacabelos as members.

The EO also banned Marcus Construction from participating in any bidding in the local government of Midsayap.

Marcus Construction’s registered owner, Marlyn Custodio, however, ran to the provincial government and filed a complaint of abuse of authority against Arana and Garduque.

(Marcus Construction, a firm closely identified with a top official of the province, has cornered almost all of the contracts in the provincial government now and in the First Congressional District several years ago.)

The North Cotabato Provincial Board, headed by Vice Governor Gregorio Ipong allegedly ignored a legal opinion issued by the Dept. of the Interior and Local Government favoring the move of Midsayap Mayor Romeo Arana to rescind the contract.

The SP proceeded to issue a 30-day suspension against Arana and Garduque which the Provincial Governor immediately implemented.

Arana said he has gone back to his farm planting rubber seedlings following the 30-day suspension imposed on him and Vice Mayyor Albert Garduque by the Provincial Leadership.

He, however, said that an appeal against the suspension order has been forwarded to the Office of the President through DILG Secretary Mar Roxas.

“Balik sibilyan ako Sir. I don’t understand this kind of governance. You work hard to serve the people but you get harassed like this,” a frustrated Mayor Arana said in a text message sent to me.

“They (the SP and the Governor) ignored the DILG opinion and suspended me,” Arana said.

First District Congressman Jesus N. Sacdalan (LP), a known ally of Arana, has come to the rescue of the beleaguered Midsayap Mayor and has reportedly referred the matter to DILG Secretary Mar Roxas.

“We, of course, know the real story behind this and who really is behind Marcus Construction,” said a Midsayap businessman who refused to be identified.

Arana said his angry constituents wanted to stage protests but he asked them to stand down and await the decision of the Office of the President on his case.

In the meantime, Arana said he is back to farming.