By Manny Pinol
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, in an apparent reaction to a dare made by the camp of embattled Vice President Jejomar Binay, has summoned Senate President Franklin Drilon to a hearing, along with other personalities involved in the alleged overpriced construction of the P700-M Iloilo Convention Center (ICC).
A news report which came out in the Philippine Daily Inquirer today said that “The Senate blue ribbon committee has started gathering documents in connection with its planned investigation into the allegedly overpriced pet project of Senate President Franklin Drilon in Iloilo City.
“Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the committee, sent separate letters dated November 3, 2014 to Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, and former Iloilo Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada, asking them to furnish the committee documents relevant to the issue.
“Among the allegations in the said resolution is that the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) is overpriced by P531 million,” Guingona said in his letter, referring to the resolution filed by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago seeking a Senate inquiry into the alleged overpricing of the ICC.”
The Senate probe of the Drilon project was suggested by the allies of Vice President Binay, who himself is also being investigated by the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee for the alleged overprice of the Makati City Hall Bldg. II and unexplained wealth.
The gambit appeared to have backfired since Drilon, unlike Binay who has refused to attend the Senate hearings, has agreed to appear during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the ICC project.
Drilon’s move further made Binay’s position not to attend the hearings more problematic because it provides a stark contrast between two political leaders both accused of graft and corruption, with Drilon agreeing to appear in the hearing and Binay coming up with all excuses to avoid a Senate appearance.
The latest setback is Strike 3 for the camp of Vice President Binay whose two previous bluffs, the dare for Senator Antonio Trillanes to accept a public debate with the Vice President and the statement that Binay would only attend the Senate hearing if it would be the Senate Blue Ribbon Mother Committee which would invite him, were called and accepted.
Binay’s camp appears to be no longer keen on the debate with Trillanes and in appearing before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.
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