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NAGTAINGANG-KAWALI ang Commission on Elections (Comelec) sa matinding kristisismo ng publiko sa pagsungkit ng P536-M contract ng Duterte crony firm para sa distribusyon ng election materials at supplies para sa 2022 polls.
Inihayag ni James Jimenez, tagapagsalita ng Comelec, walang nakikitang balidong dahilan ang poll body para kanselahin ang kontrata ng F2 Logistics Philippines Inc., kahit konektado kay Davao City-based businessman Dennis Uy, isa sa pinakamalaking campaign donor ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte noong 2016.
“There has to be a valid reason for a rescission of the contract. There would have to be some sort of violation by F2, or a change in circumstances, all of a sudden hindi na kailangan ng Comelec ‘yung kontrata. I suppose a case can be made for rescission then,” ani Jimenez.
“But in terms of what’s being floated now, in terms of suggestions being made, again that would not be grounds for rescission,” dagdag niya.
Si Uy ang chairman ng F2 Logistics habang ang kanyang asawang si Cherylyn ang corporate treasurer.
Ang F2 Logistics ay isa sa mga kompanya sa ilalim ng Udenna Corporation ni Uy.
Itinatag ang F2 Logistics noong 2002 at isa si Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea sa original incorporators, batay sa mga dokumento mula sa Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Nauna rito’y nanawagan si Gus Lagman, dating Comelec commissioner at chairperson ng poll watchdog National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) sa Comelec na kanselahin ng kontrata sa F2 Logistics dahil makaaapekto ito sa integridad ng 2022 polls.
Dapat aniyang nagdeklara ng failed bidding ang Comelec at nag-imbita ng iba pang service providers upang lumahok sa bidding sa distribusyon ng election materials.
“It can undermine the elections because the one that’s going to deliver the materials is a major contributor of one of the political parties. What if they change the contents in the delivery trucks? It’s dangerous, they should have given it to another supplier, service provider,” ani Lagman.
“If I were the Comelec, I would consider it a failed bidding and invite other service providers to participate. If I had my way, that’s what I would have to do,” dagdag niya.
Ang natalong bidders ang may karapatan aniyang kuwestiyonin ang kontrata sa korte.
Kinatigan ng poll watchdog ang pagtuligsa ng NAMFREL sa F2 Logistics.
“Just because it’s legal doesn’t make it right. No matter how you look at it, there is impropriety when the company of a major campaign contributor of a sitting President becomes in charge of the warehousing, delivery and storage of election paraphernalia,” ayon kay Kontra Daya convenor Danilo Arao.
Lalo aniyang napagdududahan ang kredibilidad ng Comelec sa partikular at ang eleksiyon sa kabuuan sa pagkorner ng F2 Logistics sa kontrata.
“This further puts into question the credibility of the Comelec in particular and the elections in general,” ani Arao.
Para kay Jimenez, binusisi ng bids and awards committee ng Comelec ang kontrata at walang nakitang conflict of interest.
Katuwiran niya mahigpit ang batas sa public bidding na dapat ay sa lowest bidder ipinagkakaloob ang kontrata na nangyari naman sa F2 Logistics na nag-alok ng pinakamababang bid.
“Because our laws are very strict. You have a public bidding, there are rules that you abide by and if you have the lowest responsive bid that’s where you award to, and that’s what happened here. F2 Logistics offered the lowest responsive bid. Therefore, it qualified ao the contract was awarded to them,” ani Jimenez.
Mahigit isang buwan mula nang maluklok sa Malacañang noong Agosto 2016, sinabi ni Pangulong Duterte na hindi siya pabor sa paggawad ng kontrata sa lowest bidder dahil nangangahulugan ito ng mababang kalidad dahil sa korupsiyon.
“In the Philippines, I hope it will not be repeated again during my time because I will not allow it,” aniya.
“I’d like to talk to the ombudsman. I am not a believer in lowest bidder. That’s where corruption is. I would rather go for the quality of the product. Lowest bid would mean lowest quality,” giit ni Duterte noon.
