MANILA, Nov. 6 (PNA) — Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III on Thursday announced the holding of Senate inquiries on the alleged overpriced Iloilo Convention Center and the Malampaya Fund scam.
In a media advisory, the BRC announced that the investigation on ICC will be held on Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. while the Malampaya probe was set on Dec. 1 also at 10 a.m.
Last Tuesday, Guingona issued letters asking Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, and former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada to submit all documents relevant to the ICC probe
Guingona set the ICC inquiry in response to the Senate Resolution No. 906 filed by Senator Miriam Santiago last September seeking to look into the alleged anomalous public works projects cornered by Hillmarc’s Construction Corporation with certain local government units.
The Hillmarc’s Construction was the same firm that constructed another overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2 which is being investigated by the Senate blue ribbon sub-committee.
Mejorada linked Senate President Franklin Drilon in the controversial ICC which according to the former administrator was overpriced by Php531 million
Drilon has denied any wrong doings, saying he just allotted Php200 million budget from his priority development assistance fund (PDAF) and Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), an opposition party, has criticized Guingona for delaying the Malampaya probe.
Last Wednesday, Guingona explained the delay was due to the absence of Commission on Audit (CoA) chairperson Grace Pulido Tan and commissioner Susan Garcia who both left the country on official trips.
Guingona said the CoA officials are now ready for the Senate inquiry.
Under a CoA report, some Php900-million fund from Malampaya Fund was used under the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). (PNA)