The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition filed by an anti-corruption watchdog in 2017 seeking to block a P829.67-million deal in connection with the procurement of driver’s license cards with five-year validity.
In a 25-page decision promulgated on June 27, the High Court dismissed the petition filed by the Anti-Trapo Movement (ATM) in May 2017.
The ATM sought the issuance of a temporary restraining order against the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to stop it from continuing a contract with NEXTIX, Dermalog Identification Systems, and CFP Strategic Transaction Advisors Joint Venture (Dermalog).
It also said that the LTO gravely abused its discretion when it awarded the contract to Dermalog. It said that this was disadvantageous to the government.
However, the Court said that even before the petition was filed, a notice to proceed was already issued in favor of Dermalog and that there is nothing to enjoin.
“Prohibition, as a preventive remedy, does not lie against an action already accomplished,” the Supreme Court said.
Further, the SC said that the LTO did not gravely abuse its discretion when it did not act on the ATM’s report before awarding the contract.
“Nowhere in Republic Act No. 9184 or its Implementing Rules does it prohibit the Procuring Entity from granting the award unless it took cognizance of or acted upon the report submitted by observers,” it said.
“It can even be deduced that an observer’s report is not mandatory, as its non-submission within the required period is a presumption that the procurement procedure was correctly followed,” it added.
GMA News Online has sought comment from the ATM but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.—LDF, GMA News
SC junks petition to stop P829-million driver’s license card deal
Source: Balita News
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