Palace remains mum on Iloilo Convention Center controversy

Malacañang remains mum on the issue of the allegedly overpriced construction of the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC), supposedly involving administration allies Senate President Franklin Drilon, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. and Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson.

In a press briefing at on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) chief Herminio “Sonny” Coloma refused to comment on the upcoming Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probe into the building's construction.

“Ang guidance po namin mula sa Pangulo hinggil dito ay magpokus sa mga programa sa reporma na ipinapatupad ng pamahalaan at hangga’t maaari ay iwanan na lamang ‘yung mga diskusyon tungkol sa mga isyung pampulitika or partisan political issues sa mga pulitiko,” Coloma said.

Liberal Party members led by Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone have issued a joint statement calling the allegations of corruption on the ICC project a “diversional squid tactic” of the oppostition's United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

Coloma said it is better to leave the issue with the Office of the Ombudsman, who has the authority to investigate the matter.

“Meron namang proseso hinggil diyan at meron nang kasong naiharap sa Ombudsman kaya hayaan natin na maganap iyong proseso ng pag-iimebstiga para malaman iyong katotohanan,” Coloma said.

Last Wednesday, former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada filed with the Office of the Ombudsman graft and plunder charges against Drilon, Jimenez, and Singson in connection with the alleged overpricing in the construction of the P700-million ICC.

Also filed by Mejorada against the respondents were malversation of public funds, dishonesty and grave misconduct, for allegedly conspiring to rig the bidding of the controversial construction project in favor of Hilmarc's Construction Co., which was also the constractor of the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II.

Mejorada alleged that the Iloilo Convention Center was Drilon's pet project funded with the senator's Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the Malacañang’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), which was declared partly unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Coloma said he has no information on whether President Benigno Aquino III had already talked with Drilon regarding the issue.

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona earlier said that his committee is set to conduct a probe into the ICC's construction. — BM, GMA News