Tuesday, January 08, 2008 Senate probe on CICC meant to smear Gwen’s reputation
ISSUES against the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) is too minor to be tackled by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, a Capitol official said yesterday.
Capitol consultant and lawyer Rory Jon Sepulveda said barangays do not even think about the CICC anymore.
The CICC, he said, also involved purely local funds.
“Our expectation is that when you say there is a Blue Ribbon hearing, there is abuse involved. Major issues are involved, affecting national security or secrets,” said Sepulveda.
“CICC, maayo nuon nga makita sa national (it’s good that it will have national exposure), pero sa akong tan-aw (but, as I see it), somehow does not feel right for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee,” said Sepulveda.
Politics
The development, Sepulveda said, drew Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s supporters to suspect that politics is behind the investigation.
“The supporters are already passionate in telling the governor that the investigation is a smear campaign against her because possible 2010 presidential candidates want Garcia as their vice president,” Sepulveda told reporters.
The Provincial Government, however, has yet to receive a communication from the Senate on the investigation.
In a press release last month, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson urged the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate alleged overpricing in the construction of the CICC and other preparations for the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in January 2007.
Lacson stressed the need to strengthen laws on procurement (Republic Act 9184) and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019) to prevent what he said were irregularities from occurring in the future.
Although saying the call did not sound right, Capitol said it has no qualms if an investigation will be conducted.
Attend, submit
“We will be respecting, honoring, anything and everything that is done in accordance with law. We will never disrespect the rule of law and we will never use means outside the ambit of the law,” said Sepulveda.
“Kung madawat (If we receive the summon), attend, kung pa-submiton (if we’re asked to submit documents), submit,” Sepulveda said.
The consultant said he thought that the Senate committee covers major investigations similar to the alleged fertilizer scam.
“The committee is more focused on abuses. Wala man siguroy ni-reklamo dinhi sa Cebu gawas anang duha ka tao nga dunay (No one is complaining in Cebu save for two people who do) abusive attack on any provincial employee pertaining to CICC,” Sepulveda said.
While he did not give names, Sepulveda apparently meant broadcaster Leo Lastimosa and businessman Crisologo Saavedra, two staunch critics of the CICC.
“Arangkada significance raman ni,” Sepulveda said. Arangkada is Lastimosa’s radio show. (JGA)
