Drilon to face Senate probe on Iloilo overprice

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Franklin Drilon said yesterday he would attend the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing into the alleged overpriced Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) project on Thursday.

“I welcome the investigation, and I support the investigation. I will inhibit myself from the investigation, but I will answer any and all questions in any forum on this issue,” Drilon said.

He said he is willing to sit through the hearing and serve as a resource person.

Blue Ribbon committee chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III said Drilon submitted some documents related to the ICC project, which were filed together with the documents furnished by Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. and former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada, Drilon’s former consultant, filed the complaint against him at the Office of the Ombudsman.

Guingona said he respects the decision of Drilon to sit in the hearing as a resource person. He said the members of the Blue Ribbon committee could ask Drilon questions during the hearing.

He said three senators – Aquilino Pimentel III, Juan Edgardo Angara and Paolo Benigno Aquino IV – have manifested their desire to take part in the proceedings.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said he would also attend the hearing.

Guingona said all parties would be given the opportunity to air their side.

Drilon has defended the ICC project, saying it was aboveboard and he has nothing to hide.

“It has been alleged that I participated in the overpricing of the Iloilo Convention Center. It is awkward, but that is the situation I face. Otherwise they might say that I am avoiding the investigation. I will face it,” he said.

Guingona said Singson, Jimenez and Mejorada were invited to attend the hearing on Thursday.

He said representatives of Hilmarc’s Construction Corp., the firm that was tapped to construct the ICC, was also invited to the hearing.

Hilmarc’s also constructed the allegedly overpriced parking building of the city government of Makati, which is the subject of a separate probe by the Blue Ribbon subcommittee.