Miriam: Probe Makati parking building contractor for DAP involvement

MANILA, Philippines - Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago wants to investigate the alleged involvement of Hilmarc's Construction Corp. in an infrastructure project supposedly financed by pork barrel funds and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

Santiago said the Senate should probe Hilmarc's alleged involvement in the construction of the P700-million Iloilo Convention Center (ICC), which was partly funded by Senate President Franklin Drilon's P200-million allocation from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in 2012 and P100 million from the DAP in 2013.

The senator cited reports that the ICC is overpriced by P531 million and is four times more expensive than the SMX Convention Center.

"Not only should we know whether the DAP funds were diverted to fake NGOs (non-government organizations) and bogus or grossly overpriced projects, but also whether these projects were rigged to favor certain contractors," Santiago said in a press statement.

Hilmarc's is the contractor of the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall II parking building, which is currently being investigated by a Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee.

Vice President Jejomar Binay has been accused of amassing kickbacks from the project and for manipulating its public bidding to favor Hilmarc's.

The construction firm reportedly obtained about 20 government infrastructure projects.

Santiago said the Senate should inquire how Hilmarc's seems to corner lucrative public works contracts.

"We also need to know how this evolved into a rigged-bidding procedure, institutionalizing illegal system of kickbacks tantamount to plunder," she said.