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.”
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.
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.
The committee though has yet to schedule its hearing.
As Senate leader and member of the committee, Guingona said, Drilon may participate anytime in the investigation.
“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.
“Senator Drilon being a member of the Blue Ribbon Committee and being the Senate President can participate anytime,” Guingona added.
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