Senate panel to probe 'overpriced' Iloilo Convention Center

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will investigate the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC), Sen. Teofisto "TG" Guingona III announced Monday.

"The Blue Ribbon Committee will initiate the probe on these controversies that are also partly covered by Senate Resolution No. 906 filed by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago," Guingona said in a statement.

Guingona, the committee chairperson, has not specified a date on when the public hearings will be held, but said that the investigation will start "as soon as initial preparations have been completed."

The supposed anomalies in the P487.8-million ICC project is the subject of a plunder complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman last week.

Senate President Franklin Drilon leads the list of names of respondents, which includes Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. and Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson facing criminal and administrative charges.

Hilmarcs Construction Corp. (HCC), the contractor that built the controversial Makati City Parking Building II, was also named in the complaint along with its president Efren Canlas.

The respondent officials are also being accused by former Iloilo provincial administration Manuel Mejorada Jr. of dishonesty and grave misconduct as well as violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Government Procurement Reform Act.