The Commission on Audit (COA) has denied for lack of jurisdiction and merit the P2.1 million money claim of Pitney Bowes Software Pte. Ltd. against the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
On July 4, 2012, the DPWH entered into a contract agreement with Pitney Bowes for the provision of software licenses, supply and installation of upgrade and support services for the Road and Bridge Information Applications and its continuing annual maintenance in the amount of $1,691,936.96.
Pitney Bowes claimed that the DPWH failed to pay for two invoices -- one for $15,846.73 and the other for $25,808.01, and in both instances, there was reportedly no reason nor justification for non-payment.
After reviewing the money claim, the COA said that Jeetendra Kumar, the managing director of Pitney Bowes, had no personality to file the Petition for Money Claim on behalf of the firm.
"Records are bereft of any showing that Mr. Jeetendra Kumar, who filed the herein Petition for Money Claim, had authority to represent the company. There was no Secretary's Certificate or Board Resolution designating Mr. Kumar as the company's representative in filing the herein money claim," the COA said.
Having no valid authority from Pitney Bowes, the COA ruled that it cannot acquire jurisdiction over the money claim.
It pointed out that the claim lacked supporting documentation, and it is incumbent upon the claimant to submit all those that would reasonably establish the propriety of the money claim.
"In sum, the petitioner (Pitney Bowes) failed to establish its entitlement to the payment of its claim, the required supporting documentation being not submitted," it stressed.