Sunday, December 16, 2007 (Philippines)

WOMEN IN CHARGE. Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia (right) and SM Supermalls executive Marissa Fernan flank President Arroyo during her visit to Cebu Friday, when she went to the mall for the launching of the book “Cebu: Pride of Place.” (Sun.Star Photo/Amper Campaña) AFTER scoring in his graft complaint on the P83-million purchase of surveillance cameras, businessman Crisologo Saavedra is aiming his guns at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) once more. Saavedra recently sent Senate President Manuel Villar a letter asking him to sponsor a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation on what he said was “overpricing in the construction and disbursement of funds” for the CICC. He reiterated allegations already brought before the anti-graft office in a separate complaint, such as how the alleged anomalies involved “misappropriation, misuse or malversation of public funds” through “a pattern of overt and criminal splitting of contracts and purchase orders through (a) negotiated selective bidding process.” [full story]