DATEM, one of the country’s largest construction firms, is determined to pursue justice after suffering through years of discussions and alleged abuse by Megaworld of ultra bilyonaryo Andrew Tan.
Datem said it has decided to go to the “proper forum” to force Megaworld to honor a 2022 mutual agreement wherein the property developer committed to pay P873.324 million for the contractor’s finished work.
“This decision (to file a case in court) follows years of patient negotiations and enduring unfair treatment. The case is now before the Courts of Law, and we want to assure our partners and stakeholders that we are committed to pursuing justice in accordance with due process,” said Datem in a statement.
“Upholding principles of integrity, Datem honors contractual commitments to clients, vendors, and employees. Financially strong, we remain steadfast in our commitment to building a better and stronger nation,” Datem added.
Despite the court battle, Datem – formed in 1984 by engineers Levy V. Espiritu and Morris S. Agoncillo, along with architect Arnold P. De Asis – assures that its operations continue without interruptions. The company also expresses appreciation to its clients, suppliers, and partners for their understanding and support during this challenging period.
Datem recently obtained a Writ of Preliminary Attachment form the Quezon City Regional Trial Court freezing the assets of Megaworld to cover for the unpaid dues which the contractor had been seeking to collect since 2018.
It has accused Megaworld of consistently moving the goalposts by introducing new and additional deductions to be charged against Datem which were not previously discussed in the mutual agreement.