Singson also questions Mislatel franchise

MANILA - Telecommunications firm Sear Telecom and its partner Tier1 on Friday filed a motion for reconsideration contesting the disqualification of their consortium from the race for the country's third telco.

The development came two days after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) chose Mislatel, a consortium of Davao-based tycoon Dennis Uy and China Telecom, as the third provisional telco player.

• READ:China Telecom, Dennis Uy venture emerges as 'provisional' third telco

Former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson, who is behind the consortium, questioned Mislatel's eligibility and said it violated regulations when it used a franchise that already had an "exclusive" binding agreement with Tier1.

The NTC selection committee on Wednesday disqualified Sear Telecom for its failure to pay a P700-million security fee.

• Third telco search: Singson-backed venture, PT&T disqualified

Singson told reporters at the NTC New Major Player (NMP) Secretariat that the consortium has the fee ready for submission.

Politician Chavit Singson on hand for the filing of Sear MR. Singson questions Congressional Franchise of Mislatel before NMP Secretariat. Singson says they have the P700M participation security ready for submission. @ABSCBNNews @ANCALERTS pic.twitter.com/ym9TDHmHPa

— Warren de Guzman (@wddeguzman) November 9, 2018

In another motion, Singson formally questioned the validity of Mislatel's franchise citing an existing contract with a member of the Sear Telecom consortium.

He sought the help of the NTC to validate Mislatel's franchise before submitting its P700 participation fee.

Another disqualified firm PT&T also filed a motion for reconsideration at the NTC on Friday.

• Disqualified third telco bidder PT&T files motion for reconsideration

Mislatel's selection had drawn questions over Uy's reported closeness to President Rodrigo Duterte, as the businessman and his wife had donated P31 million to his 2016 presidential campaign.

But Malacañang downplayed this and said personal ties do not matter with the President.