Upping the ante
AS we predicted, the word war between the MRT group and its former advertising partner Trackworks is far from over.
According to Trackworks, it had actually overpaid MRT Devco (contrary to the latter’s claims) and that this issue “will be discussed in arbitration proceedings, which both our companies have submitted to.”
(To recall, MRT Devco, which operates the MRT system, and Trackworks, which used to manage the multimillion-peso advertising business on the system, have been at loggerheads over ... what else ... money.)
The juicier part of Trackworks’ reply, however, had to do with real estate businessman Robert John Sobrepeña.
“The misrepresentation of facts, as may be gleaned from MRT Devco’s statements, is worrisome, as it suggests a repeated pattern of deceit by companies identified with Mr. Sobrepena,” Trackworks said, ratcheting the fight up a notch. “It seems that parties who enter into contracts with Bob Sobrepena-identified companies eventually complain of these companies’ failure to deliver on their ends of the deals.”
According to Trackworks, “there are a number of other aggrieved parties who have also lodged complaints against Sobrepena companies,” such as:
Filipinas System Inc., which has successfully been awarded $2.8 million in damages by the Supreme Court for MRT Devco’s failure to pay an early completion bonus for a project;
The LGUs of Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Makati and Pasay, which in 2003 jointly wrote a letter to MRT Corp. demanding the payment of taxes due them;
The Department Of Transportation and Communications, which just recently also demanded settlement of P1 billion in unremitted development rights payments;
CAP plan holders, who are still seeking justice for their devalued pre-need investments, and
Southwoods golf club members who have been filing suits against Fil-Estate.
“It now appears that Trackworks is just one of many who have been badly burned by Bob Sobrepeña,” the company said. Daxim L. Lucas
