Drilon: I will face Senate probe into Iloilo building

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Franklin Drilon will inhibit from the Senate Blue Ribbon committee probe into the allegedly overpriced Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) – tagged as his “pet project” – but he said he is willing to attend as a “resource speaker.”

“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 of the alleged overpricing of the Iloilo Convention Center,” Drilon told reporters on Monday, November 10. 

“So I will appear only to manifest my inhibition, but will answer any and all questions. Not only in the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, but in any forum,” Drilon added.

The Senate probe will begin on Thursday, November 13. Drilon said he will attend the first hearing to tell the committee that he is inhibiting from the probe but is willing to attend as a resource person.

It means he will waive his right as a member of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to ask questions from resource persons who will be invited. But he is willing to answer questions from senators.

Drilon admitted it will be “awkward” to be grilled by fellow senators but he said he has to face the issue.

“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, sasabihin tinatakbuhan ko ang investigation. Haharapin ko iyan. (Otherwise, I may be accused of running away from the investigation. I will face that.),” said Drilon. 

Criminal and administrative charges were filed against Drilon before the Office of the Ombudsman last month over the alleged overpriced P679.8- million ($15.20 million*) Iloilo Convention Center. It was filed by Manuel Mejorada, an Iloilo-based columnist and former provincial administrator.

Mejorada alleged that the convention center is overpriced by P487.85 million ($10.91 million) based on industry standards, which the complaint pegged to be at P30,000 ($670.90) per square meter.

The Senate is expected to refrain from holding committee hearings when Congress resumes session next week, November 17, because the Senate will begin plenary deliberations on the 2015 budget bill.

“As a tradition, no committee hearings while the session is ongoing whether it’s a budget or any ordinary session. Even if it’s not the budget. If you notice, there are no committee hearings if there is a plenary session. The point is the senators should be in the plenary session, not in the hearing. There should be no committee hearings during the plenary session,” explained Drilon. – Carmela Fonbuena/Rappler.com