Miriam ‘loses’ road rigging contract probe

Blue Ribbon likely to take over investigation

by JP Lopez
Malaya

The Senate economic affairs panel chaired by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago will no longer investigate the criminal side of the World Bank report on alleged collusion and bribery in government infrastructure projects and will instead focus on the report’s economic implications.

Santiago said this was the consensus reached by the majority bloc in a caucus called yesterday after some senators complained that last week’s hearing turned into a forum for bashing the World Bank.

“The first item is, pursuant to my recommendation, the Senate economic affairs committee will no longer issue subpoena to the country director of the WB,” Santiago said.

She said the country director, Bert Hofman, will be invited through Finance Secretary Margarito Teves to an informal technical briefing for all senators.

She said her panel would no longer hold a hearing with WB as a resource person.

Santiago said she has also acceded to calls by colleagues to relax the rules in conducting the investigation by waiving much technicalities.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson earlier bewailed the “orchestrated” hearing last week, which he said could give the public the impression the Senate was protecting personalities with ties to the Palace.

He said Santiago’s panel diverted from the core issue of collusion between three Filipino contractors and government officials, including presidential spouse Jose Miguel Arroyo, to corner WB-funded road projects.

Lacson said his colleagues are now preparing resolutions to seek a Senate probe on the criminal aspect of the controversy.

He said the Blue Ribbon committee, chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon, would likely take over the investigation.

“Ang economic affairs, ang aspect ng economic affairs tatapusin ng committee at magkakaroon ng committee report na isa-submit. Now if there are 1-2-3 senators na magpa-file ng resolution calling for an investigation sa aspect ng accountability of public officers, that will fall within the jurisdiction of the Blue Ribbon committee. And I think that is what is going to happen,” Lacson said.

He said he would present his witnesses once the resolution is referred to Gordon’s committee.

Gordon said he is ready to take over the investigation on the criminal aspect of the WB report.

“It is not for us to investigate the World Bank but the allegation of collusion. The Blue Ribbon committee will investigate the allegation to aid the Senate in drafting laws that would strengthen the country’s campaign against corruption,” he said.

The WB has stopped the award of $33 million worth of contracts for road projects after uncovering a major cartel involving local and international firms bidding for the projects.

The WB blacklisted three Filipino contractors for “engaging in collusive practices” during the bidding on contracts under Phase 1 of the National Roads Improvement and Management Program.

The firms were EC de Luna Construction Corp, Cavite Ideal International Construction and Development Corp., and CM Pancho Construction Inc.

Gordon scored the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Finance for doing nothing on the WB report.

“The report has been with the Ombudsman and the DOF for quite some time. How come they have not made their move yet? The World Bank has given us a chance to fix this, but we are still not moving a finger,” he said.

Former senior government executives who served five presidents are considering filing an impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez for her failure to initiate a probe on the alleged rigged biddings.

“Even though some of our members have signed the petition calling for Ombudsman Gutierrez’ resignation, we think that the more appropriate decision is to initiate an impeachment complaint,” said Karina David, a member of the Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO) and former chair of the Civil Service Commission.

David said calling for Gutierrez to resign is futile since “she will never listen.”

“If she is indeed serious in investigating the mess, why did she not write the WB and ask for the evidence it has? It’s much simpler that way,” David said.

David said they have not yet made any calls for the resignation of Teves.

“While he is a friend to many of us, and while we hope he is one of the decent people in the government, it is time to draw a line in the sand,” she said, adding that the finance secretary should make a stand on the anomaly.

Opposition and civil society groups expressed disappointment with the Senate probe on the WB report.

“You cannot fault some sectors and the people if they begin to see the Senate as having lost its independence,” Makati Mayor and United Opposition president Jejomar Binay said.

Binay said during the last hearing, some senators appeared to gang up on the World Bank, while being soft on Mr. Arroyo.

“They were quick to clear Mr. Arroyo, even quicker to indict the World Bank,” he said.

Binay said in his meetings with local opposition leaders and representatives of civil society and people’s organizations, questions were asked on the independence of the upper chamber.

“They are disappointed with the Senate. The upper chamber has traditionally been an independent institution. And when the people voted for the candidates of the opposition in 2007, they were voting for a Senate that will continue the tradition of independence,” he said.

“When the Senate surrenders its independence, it will only be the judiciary that stands in the way of Mrs. Arroyo’s plans. But even the independence of the Supreme Court will be tested this year, when Mrs. Arroyo appoints seven new justices,” he said. – With Ashzel Hachero