MORE NEWS, PAMPANGA

Korean firm presses Clark execs for reconsideration on Mimosa Estate bidding
By George Trillo

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga -- A Korean consortium, one of two qualified bidders whose bids were declared as ineligible by the bidding committee on the privatization of the 215-hectare Mimosa Leisure Estate here, has filed a second motion for reconsideration with the board of directors of the Clark Development Corp.

Executives of the consortium, Hanwool I & D Corp., said through the group’s legal counsel that only the CDC board of directors has the authority to overturn the decision of the special committee on privatization which conducted the bidding of the Mimosa Estate.

Earlier, the committee declared the bid of Hanwool as "failed" for its failure to submit required, complete documents. Hanwool’s first motion for reconsideration was denied by in a decision by the privatization committee. Executives of the Korean bidder cited a provision of the terms of reference in the Mimosa bidding that the committee’s action or decision is only recommendatory and it’s the CDC board of directors which has the final say.

Hanwool executives claimed their firm’s proposals to manage and operate Mimosa Estate is "not only the highest calculated responsive bid, but likewise the most beneficial and economically viable whether it is evaluated on a short term or long term basis."

They also said the Hanwool bid would ensure the government would get the most advantageous terms. Records show the CDC bidding committee conducted last June 6 the opening of bidding documents regarding the privatization project of Mimosa Estate. Out of the 10 bidders, only two of them -- Hanwool Corp. and Waterfront Philippines Inc. -- submitted the bid documents on time.

The others either did not arrive on time for the bidding or decided not to participate anymore. Both Hanwool and Waterfront passed the eligibility check and qualified for the opening of their technical proposals which were placed in three sealed envelopes. The bidding committee adopted the three-envelop system in which the envelopes were opened and examined one by one.

The Hanwool I & D Corp.-led Korean consortium was technically disqualified during the bidding conducted last June 6. Last June 10, the Hanwool group filed with the privatization committee its first motion for reconsideration. "Award will be made by the CDC board of directors after the special committee on Mimosa privatization submits its recommendations on the results of the bid evaluation, post qualification, and the final resolution of the motion for reconsideration filed by the Hanwool consortium," said Levy Laus, CDC president.


CIDG operatives nab two wanted persons
By Mar T. Supnad

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested two robbery-holdup suspects who are wanted by the authorities in Bulacan. Senior Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, CIDG Central Luzon chief, identified the suspect as Cicinsio Galit, 20, of Barangay Citrus, San Francisco del Monete, who was facing robbery charges at the sala of Judge Herminia Pasamba of Regional Trial Court’s Branch 82 in Malolos City.

Judge Pasamba recommended P100,000 bail bond for the temporary liberty of the suspect. Supt. Riche Posadas, head of the CIDG office in Bulacan, also reported to Colonel Eleazar that Donato dela Cruz, tagged as No. 5 most wanted man in Bulacan, was also arrested for his alleged involvement in robbery-holdup, "akyat bahay," gun-for-hire, and carnapping cases in Bulacan.

Eleazar said Dela Cruz and Galit were arrested under the "Plan Salikop" launched by CIDG against wanted persons in the region.