[SIZE="4"]GSIS sues computer firm; IBM threatens to file libel[/SIZE]
THE Government Service Insurance System filed a P100-million lawsuit against IBM Philippines and its local partner for allegedly providing defective software that paralyzed the operations of the pension fund.
But IBM Philippines said it would file a P200-million libel suit against the pension fund for engaging in a series of “unwarranted public attacks” that tarnished the company’s reputation.
“We cannot stand by and allow our company’s reputation to be tarnished by blatantly inaccurate and misleading accusations,” IBM Philippines said in a statement. “The deliberately libelous actions by the GSIS leave IBM with no other course of action.”
GSIS lawyer Estrella Elamparo filed the complaint at the Pasay City Regional Trial Court, claiming IBM Philippines and Questronix Corp. provided a database management software, called the IBM DB2, that intermittently crashed and paralyzed operations.
It said the defective software resulted in actual damages of at least P5 billion
She claimed that actual damages suffered by the GSIS included the amount of resources spent for data recovery activities and unrealized income from investments.
GSIS is claiming actual and compensatory damages of at least P80 million, P10 million for moral damages, P8 million for exemplary damages and P2 million for litigation expenses and lawyers’ fees.
Lawrence Agcaoili