P4.39M claim vs PhilPost denied

THE Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost) does not have to pay the P4,368,000 claim filed by a Davao City-based information technology (IT) services provider on the ground that the person who filed the petition has no legal capacity to do so.

The Commission on Audit (COA) noted that the claim was filed on behalf of Vaqsys Solutions by lawyer Ryan Erik Santiago, counsel for the IT firm.

Based on the claim, PhilPost tapped the services of Vaqsys in September 2011 to develop a software to improve the business operations of PhilPost-Mega Manila.

For this purpose, Vaqsys said it came up with the eBMS System which was described as “a client file server/web-based application system that facilitates the fast and accurate consolidation of information and provides mail delivery information to the client.”

During the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), PhilPost was represented by Postmaster General Ma. Josefina Dela Cruz while Vaqsys was represented by its general manager Vaugn Quimno.

While the PhilPost Board of Directors passed Resolution No. 2014-19 approving the acquisition of the eBMS System on March 24, 2014, it made the reservation that all documents pertaining to the transaction be referred first to the COA before any payment is made.

In denying the claim, the COA en Banc noted the lack of proof that Santiago has full authority from Vaqsys to pursue the petition.