On “overpriced” ICC Bizmen back Drilon

CEBU, Philippines – Senate President Franklin Drilon has earned the support from a group of 81 Ilonggo businessmen and community leaders amid accusations of his involvement in the allegedly overpriced Iloilo Convention Center.

The business groups, in a manifesto dated November 5 sent to various media outfits, condemned “the people who are out to thwart progress in Iloilo by maligning these dedicated public servants who have only the best interests of the country and Iloilo at heart.”

By public servants, the group referred to Drilon, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr., who were charged with plunder and graft over the alleged overpriced construction of ICC.

Also charged were Tourism Director Mark Lapid; DPWH Undersecretary Jaime Pacanan, chairman of the DPWH national bids and awards committee; DPWH Undersecretary Romeo Momo and Regional Director Edilberto Tayao; Marilyn Celiz, DPWH-Iloilo BAC regional chairperson; William Coscolluela, president of William Coscolluela & Associates, the ICC architect; and Efren Canlas, president of Hilmarcs Construction.

“We believed that Secretary Singson and Secretary Jimenez are among the most upright and respected members of the Cabinet. We believe that they will not allow themselves to be used by anyone for nefarious purposes,” read the businessmen’s manifesto.

The group added that the “the funds for the ICC came from the Disbursement Acceleration Program and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, an attached agency of the Department of Tourism, which went directly to DPWH-Region 6 that in turn bid out the project under government rules and regulations.

They added: “We, therefore, find it preposterous that a plunder case should be filed against Drilon, relative to the ICC construction.”