Results of probe into CICC out this week

CEBU, Philippines - The results of the fact-finding investigation into the alleged anomalous construction of the Cebu International Convention Center are set to be released by the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas within the week.

Assistant Ombudsman for the Visayas Virginia Palanca-Santiago said she has already finished the review of the final evaluation report submitted by graft investigator Roderick Blazo.

The report was already returned to Blazo for the final draft and is expected to be returned back to her for signature and approval.

As soon as Santiago signs the report the public, through the media, will immediately know the anti-graft office’s findings.

Santiago explained that the final evaluation report no longer needs the approval of Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol.

Santiago refused to reveal the content of the report of Blazo. But she said two things can happen, one possibility is the upgrading of the fact-finding into a formal criminal and administrative investigation and second is the closing of the investigation for lack of sufficient evidence.

Should the anti-graft office upgrade its investigation, Capitol officials and other people involved in the construction of the CICC will be asked to formally answer the charges in the preliminary investigation.

The anti-graft office launched two years ago a fact-finding investigation into the construction of the CICC because of allegations of irregularities.

The fact-finding dragged on for two years because of the voluminous documents that the investigator had to peruse.

Another factor that contributed to the delay in the fact-finding was the delay of the submission of the Commission on Audit of their audit report on the CICC.

The anti-graft office enlisted the help of COA in the audit of the CICC transactions because they have the technical capability of doing so.

The investigation stemmed from allegations that the provincial government paid more than it should have for the CICC as a result of alleged violations of the procurement law including the splitting of contracts, negotiated procurement and selective bidding.

Among the issues being looked into by the anti-graft is that the contractor, WT Construction, allegedly did not post the lowest bid.

The Capitol built the CICC to host some of the activities of the 2007 Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit. The project used local funds amounting to almost P1 billion. — Fred P. Languido/BRP (THE FREEMAN)