Mayor asked: Probe

A prospective bidder, who joined the Aug. 20, 2008 bidding for the purchase of furniture and fixtures for the new Bacolod City Government Center, is appealing to Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia to investigate the possible collusion of two other bidders.

Former Negros Occidental Victor Puey, in his letter dated Aug. 23, 2008, to Leonardia said he believes Summit Furnishings, Inc. and Comfac Corporation connived to defraud the city government and the people of Bacolod City by bidding as two separate suppliers when, actually, they were used by one person or supplier.

Puey said both had the same samples using the same materials and style. The irony is that both used the same wrong materials and style based on specifications required by the Bids and Awards Committee, he said. “I doubt that two suppliers could possibly make the same mistake,” he added.

Both Summit and Comfac used the same truck – samples came from the same container van, Puey said. No competitive supplier will ever allow this to happen unless they are one, he said.

Puey said that under the city’s “Instruction to Bid” based on R.A. 9184 on Corrupt, Fraudulent and Corrective Practices – any move to deceive the government by any supplier or to connive with other suppliers is punishable by law and if found guilty, they shall be banned from future biddings and could be prosecuted by the proper courts.

“I pray that you act on this appeal so as not to allow suppliers to make a mockery of our very important bidding process and law which protects the people of Bacolod City from fraudulent suppliers,” he said.

Puey said he is making the appeal because he sees no action from the BAC people especially from its chairman who, he said he believes, knows these things and up to now has not acted on it.

He said that if he has been very vocal against some members of the BAC, it is because of his perception that they are making things difficult for him and siding with certain suppliers