By Argyll Geducos
Malacañang has urged bidders who failed to win the contract or dropped out of the race for the Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA) to file a complaint if they have proof that the selection process was tilted in favor of a consortium which includes the state-run China Communications Construction Co. (CCCC).
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo (OPS / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo stated this after reports that the joint venture documents and feasibility study for the project showed indications that a Chinese partner was favored from the very beginning.
Other bidders also decided to back out due to a "subjective criteria" and a rushed selection process which only gave bidders two months instead of at least six months to one year to prepare proposals for the December 17, 2019 deadline.
However, he said that Malacañang will step in if the other bidders can show proof that the selection process was rigged to favor CCCC, which joined forces with businessman Lucio Tan's MacroAsia Corp.
“The presumption is it is above board unless you give us proof that it is not, then we come in,” Panelo said.