Drilon to inhibit from Iloilo building probe | Inquirer News

Drilon to inhibit from Iloilo building probe

But Senate leader willing to answer questions
By: - Reporter / @MAgerINQ
/ 05:58 PM November 04, 2014

MANILA, Philippines — While he said he would inhibit from  the Senate investigation  into  the allegedly overpriced  construction of the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC), Senate  President  Franklin Drilon  expressed willingness on  Tuesday to  face the chamber and answer questions by his colleagues.

“I will inhibit. I will inhibit from the hearing. I will not join,”  Drilon said in a radio interview.

But if his colleagues would like to question him over his pet project, Drilon said: “If that’s what they want I will face them and answer their questions.”

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ARTIST’S rendering of the Iloilo Convention Center. FROM ILOILO BUSINESS PARK

ARTIST’S rendering of the Iloilo Convention Center. FROM ILOILO BUSINESS PARK

“I’m not hiding anything here,” said the Senate leader, who is facing plunder and graft complaints at the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the ICC.

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Drilon though  said  the best  person to answer the  overpricing  allegations was  Public  Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, who he said supervised the bidding  process  for the  P700-million   construction of the  ICC.

The planned investigation by the Senate blue ribbon committee being headed by Senator  Teofisto Gungona III was prompted  by a resolution filed by  Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago seeking an inquiry into the issue.

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The committee though has yet to schedule its hearing.

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As Senate leader and member of the committee, Guingona said, Drilon may participate  anytime in the investigation.

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“He is a member of the committee, he doesn’t have to be invited. Just like in the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance  Fund) cases, the three senators were members of the committee and they could’ve participated anytime. But they chose to inhibit,”  Guingona told reporters in an interview  at his office in the Senate.

He was referring to detained Senators Juan Ponce-Enrile, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who have been charged with plunder and graft in connection with the so-called “pork barrel” scam.

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“Senator Drilon being a member of the Blue Ribbon Committee and being the Senate President can participate anytime,” Guingona added.

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Senate to probe Drilon over Iloilo project

TAGS: Government, Iloilo Convention Center, Plunder, Senate

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