Erap orders probe on defective ‘Lim Building’

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has ordered an investigation into the liability of former city officials involved in the alleged anomalous construction of a four-story school building during the term of former mayor Alfredo Lim.

Estrada also accused former-rivals-turned-allies Alfredo Lim and Lito Atienza of engaging in a “selling spree” of properties owned by the city government, including the Century Park Hotel and two public schools in Binondo.

He said he wants an investigation on the now abandoned Lim Building of the Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Tondo.

A graft complaint was earlier filed against Lim and 13 other former city hall officials. The private contractor was also impleaded.

Estrada stressed there is no politics behind the investigation on the bidding, approval, and construction of the P68.5-million Lim Building, which a private engineering consultancy firm confirmed as “structurally compromised” as it leans away from the main building it was connected to.

In nearby Makati City, mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña is confident of winning a fresh mandate on Monday and beating rival 2nd District Rep. Abigail Binay.

He said the latest surveys show him ahead of Binay, opining that voters may also want change in the city.

Peña held a second Miting de Avance yesterday at the city’s 1st District, considered as a stronghold of the Binay family.

Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Joel Pagdilao said they have successfully secured and escorted the delivery of 9,271 vote counting machines (VCMs) and other election paraphernalia to 927 polling precincts in Metro Manila.

Pagdilao said the delivery from the warehouse of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Sta. Rosa, Laguna to the different polling centers started last April 28 and ended on May 5.

He also directed the NCRPO Regional Public Safety Battalion and Special Reaction Units to continue safeguarding the election paraphernalia until the May 9 elections. – Jose Rodel Clapano, Non Alquitran, Mike Frialde