Saavedra asks for a full-blown trial on ASEAN security cams

After the court denied his application for a writ of preliminary injunction to stop the Department of Public Works and Highways from paying the supplier of the security camera used during the ASEAN summit, Crisologo Saavedra is gunning for a full-blown trial of his petition.

Saavedra asked the Regional Trial Court to immediately schedule the hearing of his petition for injunction against DPWH and Triton Communications.

He said he is no longer filing a motion for reconsideration on Judge Eric Menchavez’s denial of his application for preliminary injunction because Triton has already collected the payment for the security camera.

The businessman said he is now pursuing for the full-blown trial so he can prove to the court that the payment was illegal as well as the awarding of contract to Triton.

“It is useless to ask for a preliminary injunction kay nakakolekta naman. We will file a motion for hearing kay we will be presenting our evidence that Triton was illegally awarded the contract,” Saavedra said.

Although he admitted that the court’s denial of his application for preliminary injunction could be an indication that he is facing an uphill legal battle ahead, Saavedra said he would try to prove that the contract between Triton and DPWH for the supply of the surveillance camera was illegal.

Saavedra’s company, Cebesos Development Corporation, first won the bidding for the project, which was later awarded to Triton because of Cebesos’ alleged failure to deliver the equipment.

This prompted Saavedra to file a case seeking for P1 million in damages from the DPWH and Triton. He also tried to stop DPWH from paying the project, but his application for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction were both denied by the court.

In his latest order, Menchavez ruled that Saavedra’s allegations that there was a breach of contract committed by DPWH officials and the private defendant are still to be proven during the full-blown trial.

On top of the civil case that Saavedra filed against DPWH and Triton, an inquiry into alleged graft and corruption has also been ongoing before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Saavedra said he expected that the anti-graft body will have its decision soon as to whether to upgrade the case into formal criminal and administrative charges. — Fred P. Languido/LPM