3rd complaint filed to disqualify Dutch firm in license plate gov’t contract
MANILA, Philippines—A third complaint has been filed with the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) that sought the disqualification of a foreign firm affiliated with a local bidder for the multi-billion peso motor vehicle license plate government contract.
In a letter-complaint made public Wednesday, lawyers Randolph P. Barlongay and Jesus Rafael M. De Castro filed the financial statements of the Dutch firm J. Knieriem B.V. Goes (JKG) showing alleged irregularities in the pre-qualification documents it submitted to the Philippine government.
“These official documents indubitably established JKG’s culpability to commit fraud in its submissions in connection with the public bidding for the ‘DOTC/LTO Procurement of Goods and Services for the Land Transportation Office Motor Vehicle License Plate Standardization Program’,” they said.
“Hence, we are now constrained to respectfully move for the immediate termination of the post-evaluation proceedings of the bid documents submitted by the joint venture of J. Knieriem B.V. Goes of Netherlands and its local partner Power Plates Development Concepts Inc.” the complaint further stated.
The complaint was addressed to Undersecretary for Legal and Procurement Jose Perpetuo M. Lotilla, Chairman of the DoTC’s Primary Bids and Awards Committee and lawyer Catherine P. Gonzales, undersecretary for Project Implementation.
As of 2011, all seven subsidiaries under H3 B.V. including JKG only have a total number of 45 employees. The Current and Total Assets of all seven (7) subsidiaries only amounted to €6.264.360 or P338,275,440.00 and €11.250.093 or P 607,505,022.00, respectively.
The Net Income for 2011 of all seven (7) subsidiaries yielded a negative amount of €215.068- or equivalent to P11,613,672.00.
The complainants said the negative Net Income and Gross Income therein declared do not only pertain to J. Knieriem B.V. Goes, but likewise includes that of the other six (6) subsidiaries under the holding company H3 B.V. Goes.
The complaints reiterated that their documents show that “since the Consolidated Financial Statements of J. Knieriem BV Goes (JKG) shows a NEGATIVE €215,068.00 as net income, on what appears to be a gross margin or gross income of only €5,003,546.00 for calendar year 2011, we are seriously concerned that said company was an ineligible bidder and should therefore be disqualified.”
