Drilon, linked to scams, sues accuser

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

ILOILO CITY—Senate President Franklin Drilon has filed a libel complaint against a former consultant for online posts accusing the senator of involvement in alleged irregularities in government projects in Iloilo.

In a 10-page complaint filed at the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office on Aug. 27, Drilon accused Manuel “Boy” Mejorada of four counts of libel for articles posted on Mejorada’s blog and Facebook account from Sept. 30, 2013 to Jan. 29, 2014.

Drilon, in his complaint, called Mejorada’s allegations as “malicious” and “false” with “reckless disregard as to the truth…”

Mejorada, former Iloilo provincial administrator who occasionally writes columns for Iloilo newspapers, called the complaint as “pure harassment, a strong message to dissenters that legitimate criticism of public officials will be dealt with an iron fist.”

‘Cowardly’

He called the filing of the complaint “a cowardly act,” pointing to the venue of its filing in Pasay City, which Mejorada said would require him to spend for travel to Manila.

In his complaint, Drilon cited four online posts where he said Mejorada maligned him.

In a Sept. 30, 2013 blog post, Mejorada alleged that Drilon chose an architectural firm to prepare the design of the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) in violation of bidding requirements.

In a Facebook post on Jan. 14, Mejorada posted a photo of earth-filling activities at the Iloilo Circumferential Road project in Pavia town describing the project as “Drilon’s version of the Macapagal Boulevard—grossly overpriced,” an apparent reference to the overpriced P1.1-billion, five-kilometer President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City.

In another post on his blog site on Jan. 15, Mejorada claimed that Drilon was involved in irregularities in the construction of a ferry terminal in Iloilo City.

Mejorada, in a blog post on Jan. 29, also accused Drilon of being responsible for the alleged overpricing of the cost of building the ICC.

Denial, denial

Drilon, main proponent of the projects, has repeatedly said he has no involvement in the procurement process including the bidding of projects. He has also refuted allegations of overpricing.

In his complaint, Drilon said Mejorada acted as his consultant and media relations officer from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, 2010 and from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2011.

He said he terminated Mejorada’s employment after Mejorada allegedly used the senator’s social media accounts to “attack” Iloilo politicians.

Mejorada has also filed graft complaints against Drilon and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways in relation to government projects in Iloilo.

Mejorada served as propagandist and campaign manager of businessman Rommel Ynion.

Ynion, who ran as mayoral candidate of Iloilo City under the United Nationalist Alliance in the May 2013 elections, was defeated by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Drilon’s second cousin and ally in the ruling Liberal Party.

Mejorada has denied that he has an axe to grind against Drilon.