Mindoro solon pushes probe of P10-B deals

LEACHON

The representative of the first district of Oriental Mindoro province on Saturday said he summoned representatives of two construction companies to shed light on reports that at least P10.6 billion worth of infrastructure projects under the Arroyo administration had been cornered by a choice group of contractors.

In a statement, Rep. Paulino Salvador Leachon said only 10 construction firms had cornered public works contracts under the Arroyo administration with two of these firms getting the biggest chunk of the projects, getting P8 billion worth of contracts.

Funds for the projects were from the Road Board and the  Department of Public Works and Highways.

Leachon, vice chair of the House committee on good government, said the committee was looking into the list of companies that got what appeared to be sweetheart deals during the tenure of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is now detained on charges of plunder and election sabotage.

Quoting Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Leachon said the two contractors that got the bulk of the projects “had no accomplishment reports.”

“There was a finding that one of these companies was  not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission,”  Leachon said in his statement.