Drilon says obstacle to his pet project gone

ILOILO CITY—The biggest obstacle to the completion of the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) has been removed, according to Senate President Franklin Drilon, who allotted his pork barrel funds to the ICC, his pet project.

Drilon, expressing relief that the graft case against him in connection with the ICC has been dismissed, said the convention center would be finished in July in time for meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec), an organization of countries in the Asia Pacific region that seeks the perfection of free trade, among other things.

“This convention center has been delayed for three months because of this totally baseless and malicious case,” said Drilon.

“We have been denied the opportunity to host conventions before the Apec,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a national forum on the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II held in Jaro District here.

A special panel of the Ombudsman dismissed the criminal and administrative complaints filed by former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada against Drilon and other officials for alleged irregularities in the construction of the ICC.

The panel said Mejorada failed to back up his allegations of overpricing, flawed bidding and other alleged irregularities related to the P747-million project.

Mejorada, a former consultant of Drilon before they had a falling out, said he would appeal the resolution.

Edilberto Tayao, the Department of Public Works and Highways Western Visayas director and one of the respondents, said the dismissal of the case would help accelerate the completion of the ICC.