MANILA, Philippines – Does Malacañang agree that the overpricing allegations against Senate President Franklin Drilon are mere squid tactics by the opposition?

The Palace chose not to comment.

On Tuesday, November 4, Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma was mum about the issue, saying they would rather not meddle.

“The President’s guidance for us about that is to focus on reform programs being put in place by the government as much as we can and leave such poliical decisions or partisan political issue to politicians,” he said.

Coloma also said he has no information on whether Drilon and the President have spoken on the matter.

Drilon, a staunch ally of the President and a key leader of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), faces corruption allegations in connection with the allegedly overpriced P679.8- million ($15.20 million)* Iloilo Convention Center. The Senate blue ribbon committee has decided to formally investigate the matter while criminal and administrative complaints were filed last week against Drilon before the Office of the Ombudsman over the same pet project in his home province. 

Some sectors had been daring blue ribbon committee chairman Senator Teofisto Guingona III – also a member of the LP – to investigate Drilon to prove that the administration is not being selective in its legislative probes. 

A blue ribbon subcommittee is in the middle of probe into another allegedly overpriced infrastructure project, this one involving Vice President Jejomar Binay and his family.

Binay plans to run for president in 2016, but Aquino’s presumed standard bearer is LP stalwart Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II. – Rappler.com