Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 13) — A law firm is calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to block the implementation of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ (BFAR) vessel monitoring project amid alleged “irregularities” in the implementation of its ₱2-billion contract.
The Ma. Neiseria Ailah Tuquero and Partners Law Office, representing the complainant in the graft case filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against former and incumbent BFAR officials in connection with the project’s contract, sent a letter to Marcos, a copy of which was shown to the media on Tuesday.
The law firm said it was prompted to raise its concerns to the president amid the BFAR’s “push” to implement Fisheries Administrative Order No. 266, which was earlier stopped by the Palace pending a Supreme Court ruling over its constitutionality.
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It said resuming the implementation of FAO 266 is “inextricably linked” to the Integrated Marine Environment Monitoring System Project Phase II (PHILO Project Phase II) .In the letter, the law firm highlighted the alleged issues in the contract, including the bidding process.It said the French government was supposed fund the project, which required French citizenship and affiliation requirements to qualify as bidders. However, a British company eventually won the bid, resulting in the withdrawal of the French funding.The firm also questioned the increase in the required number of transceivers or tracking devices to be used — from the initial 2,500 units to 5,000 units. The figure, the law firm argued, far exceeds what was required.“These would invariably translate to a very costly public expenditure,” it said. “We pray that the Honorable President consider the pendency of the criminal complaint and the consequences of implementing the PHILO Project Phase II through [the British company] based on the irregularities attendant to and the expiration of the contract,” it added.
