Jaraula’s orders stopped SCANTEL investigation by legal panel

February 17, 2010

By Lizanilla J. Amarga

agayan de Oro City Mayor Constantino “Tinnex” Jaraula should be Cinvestigated for failing to slap charges against the contractor of the P50 million Telepono sa Barangay as promised in 2007 and 2008.

This was the statement issued by former City Hall legal officer Atty. Mart Maandig yesterday amid questions on what happened to the legal panel created by Jaraula to study the appropriate legal action to take against the contractor Supplier Contractor and Networking Telecommunications (Scantel) in 2008.

Maandig who was appointed by Jaraula to head the legal panel said they were able to conduct an “initial stage review” on the contract and study the Commission on Audit (COA) observation memorandum issued against the project contractor.

He said they conducted the study on what appropriate legal action to take against SCANTEL while Jaraula gave SCANTEL a deadline to complete the project in 2007.

“We were not able to finish because the mayor extended period to deliver equipment and make it operational. Superseded ang work nako. Dapat ma-investigate si Jaraula ana na issue,” his said.

“When they extended the period the city government also waived its rights under the contract…so we stopped,” he added.

For his part, Jaraula scoffed at Maandig’s statement succinctly pointing out that it was Maandig who was the City Legal Officer who advised on the legality of the SCANTEL contract when it was awarded to the project contractor in 2003.

“Lamlam lang siya (Maandig). Siya ang abogado adtong panahona unsa man iyang gibuhat?,” he said.

Jaraula also debunked the statement issued by City Councilor Reynaldo Advincula that there was an ordinance issued by the City Council authorizing him to take the appropriate legal measure against SCANTEL.

“Mo-agi man gyud na nako kay ako man ang mopirma ana. Naa siguro silay ordinansa pero basin ilang gitagoan,” he said.

City Administrator Griscelda Joson, who was with Jaraula during the interview, confirmed that they did not receive any city ordinance or resolution from the City Council relevant to the filing of charges against SCANTEL.

She said what they received was only regarding the ordinance on linking up with Bayantel for the two co-locators for the Telepono sa Barangay connection.

Jaraula said his administration has yet to file charges against SCANTEL as there are two things that they are still checking on.

He said this include: (1) SCANTEL’s performance as contractor of the P50 million Telepono sa Barangay since 2003 as against the amount of P31 million that the City Hall already paid to them and (2) SCANTEL’s full compliance to the contract it entered into with the City Government.

“Ato pa ipa-determine ang full compliance sab nila. Either way sila ang alkansi or kita ang alkansi. Ato pa ipadetermine kay tua man sa kabukiran ug ang lisud ani kay basin inig testing nato karon mo-andar unya inig kataudtaud dili nasab,” he said.

Jaraula said he had not signed any document that the City Hall has already accepted the P50 million Telepono sa Barangay Project.

He said his administration even refused to initiate the “acceptance testing” that SCANTEL president Francisco Villapando, Jr. has requested.

The mayor said SCANTEL should first complete the installation of the telephone network for all 17 barangays as stipulated in the contract and make sure that all lines have a stable connection and “continuously operational.”

“Kay if dili continuously operational, dili nato dawaton. Inig testing-testing unya karon adlawa operational ugma dili nasab,” he said.

When asked on whether he might just complete his term as mayor this June 2010 and that nothing is done to make the entire P50 million project work and/or press charges on those liable, Jaraula assured that his administration is doing its best to look into these matters.

“Ayaw kabalaka. Basta kanunay, while all these things are happening, ako kanunay I am doing my best to protect the interest of the people of Cagayan de Oro,” he said.

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