Decision on ICC probe is now up to Guingona — Drilon

Senate President Franklin Drilon. Photo courtesy of Drilon’s official Facebook page.

MANILA – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Monday said it is now up to blue ribbon committee chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona to decide whether or not to push through with the Senate inquiry into the alleged overpriced Iloilo Convention Center (ICC).

”Well that is addressed to the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, Senator TG Guingona. I am certain that Sen. Guingona will take consideration of the views of his colleagues. That is for Sen. Guingona to decide,” Drilon said in a media interview.

Earlier, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said he finds no need for the Senate to go deeper into the alleged overpriced ICC where Drilon has been linked by former Iloilo provincial administration Manuel Mejorada.

Trillanes said Mejorada has admitted that he has no evidence that the ICC was overpriced by Php521 million.

Meanwhile, Senator Serge Osmena still believes that the Senate blue ribbon panel should continue the investigation, saying circumstantial evidence remains important to determine whether the ICC was marred with anomaly.

”My stand is in the interest of transparency. We have yet to see the facts. Let’s not close (the probe),” Osmena said.

Osmena said it is not true that Mejorada has not prove his allegations, saying “hard documentation is only one of the types of evidence.

”His (Mejorada) arguments and if you could convict by circumstantial evidence, he will be able to make his case,” Osmena said.

For his part, Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III said it is not important for him whether or not to continue to the ICC Senate hearing.

”I don’t mind if the hearing will not be pushed through. Anyway, the allegations of Mejorada were all recorded,” Pimentel said.

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said the ICC hearing should continue at least to hear the testimony of Augusto ‘Buboy’ Syjuco Jr. who accused Drilon of owning mansion in Forbes Park.

”As to whether the investigation should be continued in the light of that first witness, i think out of respect for former Rep. Augusto Syjuco, he should also be given his own chance,” Santiago said.

Santiago, however, said if Syjuco failed to show evidence, the hearing should be stopped for the Senate to focus on other matters.