This can’t be good.
“Former Iloilo Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada has filed plunder and graft charges against Senate President Franklin Drilon before the Ombudsman over the allegedly overpriced construction of the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC), which was also built by the contractor of the controversial PHP2.2-billion Makati City Hall Parking Building II,” reports Tempo.
The report noted: “Mejorada, in an 18-page criminal and administrative complaint, narrated that Drilon announced in April 2012 the building of the convention center at the cost of only PHP300 million, or PHP30,000 per square meter with the funds coming from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) — also known as the ‘pork barrel’ fund — and the Department of Tourism (DOT). But Mejorada claims that the construction cost was revised several times to reach around PHP488 million.”
Indeed, there are reports that say that the amount has even increased to more than PHP700 million.
An ABS-CBNnews.com article revealed that when Drilon spoke to reporters on Wed, Oct 29, he confirmed that the 11,000-square- meter ICC project cost PHP700 when he “explained that PHP500 million of the project’s cost came from the national budget, while PHP200 million was from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (PEZA).”
Mejorada also filed the same charges against the following:
1. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio L. Singson
2. DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.
3. Tourism Director Mark Lapid
4. DPWH Undersecretary Jaime Pacanan, chairman of the DPWH national bids and awards committee (BAC)
5. DPWH Undersecretary Romeo Momo
6. DPWH Regional Director Edilberto Tayao
7. Marilyn Celiz, chair of the DPWH Region 6 BAC
8. William Coscoluella, president of W.V. Coscolluela and Associates, architect of the ICC
9. Efren Canlas, president of Hilmarcs Construction Corp.
The report added that “last month, former Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco Jr. also filed plunder charges against Drilon, Jimenez, Singson, and other public officials, including President Aquino, for the allegedly overpriced construction of the ICC.”
Photo: ANC video screengrab
