Drilon accuser submits documents on alleged overpriced Iloilo Convention Center

(Updated 6:10 p.m.) The accuser of Senate President Franklin Drilon has submitted to the Senate blue ribbon committee a copy of his complaint filed with the Office of the Ombudsman as well as the evidence regarding the alleged overpriced Iloilo Convention Center.

 

“Ibinigay ko yung copy ng complaint affidavit na subscribed dun sa Ombudsman at kasama yung annexes,” former Iloilo Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada Jr. told Senate reporters on Thursday.

 

“Yung DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) documents na nagpapakita ng chronology of events kung ano ang mga ginawa nila at nagpapakita kung saan na-violate ang Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act),” he added.

 

Mejorada earlier filed plunder and graft charges against Drilon and other government officials before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the Iloilo building project. 
 

Dismissing the complaint, Drilon said he just funded the project and had nothing to do with the bidding.

But Mejorada believes the Senate President is involved in it. “Pinagyayabang niya na kanyang brainchild ang project, ibig sabihin siya talaga ang nagpatakbo ng project na ito.” 

 

At the same time, Mejorada denied Drilon’s earlier statement that the Senate chief sacked him from his group. Mejorada said he was Drilon's consultant for the Senate finance committee from Sept. 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. 

Drilon earlier said Mejorada was his former consultant whom he sacked for using his [Drilon's] social media platform to criticize other politicians without his consent.

 

“Hindi niya ako tinanggal, umalis ako dahil nagbalik na ako sa media. Ang kontrata ko ay natapos nung June 30, 2011, April pa lang ay umalis na ako dahil nasa media na ako, that can be checked. Nung July 10, 2011 e patuloy pa kaming nagko communicate, either thru text or email,” he said.

 

He said it was Drilon who cut their communication after the latter no longer replied to his email on a news story he wrote about a project of the Iloilo City government which used the lawmaker’s pork barrel.

 

“Bumili ang LGU nung 2005 ng lupa para sa relocation site gamit yung pork barrel niya. Ako naman, akala ko wala siyang kinalaman dun, hindi niya alam yung overpricing kaya nung nag email ako sa kanya, it was in good faith, para mawarningan siya, akala ko magagagalit sya sa LGU officials kaso hindi,” he said.

 

“Huminto na siyang sumagot, nagshut-out siya. So wala yung samaan ng loob o nagkagalit kami o nag-away kami. Talagang he just decided na out na ko sa buhay niya. Hindi ko nga alam noon na out na ako sa buhay niya,” said Mejorada.

 

He said that he did not file the complaint against Drilon because of personal reason but out of his advocacy to expose graft and corruption.

 

“Hindi sapat na i-expose lang kasi yung mga public officials natin ay makapal na ang mukha. Hindi na nahihiya kahit anong eskandalo. Noon pa ang ginagawa ko pag me ieexpose ako ay isinasampa ko na rin ng kaso. Gusto ko ipakita na hindi ito ngayon lang at ito ay ikaapat na kaso na isinampa ko kay Senate President Drilon. Nag-file ako ng kaso dahil may basehan,” he said.

 

On whether he is afraid to face the committee, Mejorada said: “Kahit they treat me roughly, kahit medyo hostile siya sa akin, hindi ako natatakot kasi nakasandal tayo sa katotohanan.  Ang sasabihin ko katotohanan at katotohanan lang,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News