Capitol Lawyer Resigns as BAC Chair

● Davide said he accepted Ortega’s decision with regret.

Capitol Legal officer Orvi Ortega steps down as chairman of the Provincial Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said on Wednesday.

“Last Thursday Atty. Ortega resigned from BAC. He asked to be relieved from his duties and responsibilities sa BAC,” Davide said.

The governor said he only got Ortega’s resignation letter last Friday and accepted it with “regret.”

“I welcome the decision of Atty. Ortega. I accepted his resignation with regret because as I always mention I still have trust and confidence in him. His services are for the good of everybody,” said Davide.

When asked if Ortega’s resignation was because of the controversies surrounding the bidding for the security services, Davide said “yes” but what Ortega did was “for the good of everybody.”

The governor, however, clarified that Ortega remains as the Capitol lawyer and a concurrent chief of staff.

Meanwhile, it is now up to the committee to find a replacement for Ortega, he said.

The provincial lawyer had just slid down to BAC’s vice chairman from being its chair after a reshuffle last month which was be triggered after the BAC fell in hot waters.

The BAC had been at the center of media attention when it awarded to the Black Pearl Security Agency the P27-million security services contract, and then later on disqualified it allegedly because it was incompetent among other reasons.

Because of the controversy the governor had to declare a failure of bidding.