House airport probe nears end with new twists
The congressional probe on the multi-billion New Iloilo Airport Development Project (NIADP) nears conclusion with Wednesday's hearing that saw more interesting developments.
In a report, The News Today gathered that a motion for the deportation of Japanese contractors belonging to Taishie-Shimizu Joint Venture was made. The scrapping of the P6.8 billion contract was also pushed anew amidst documents submitted to the Committee on Good Government that bared alleged huge negative slippage. And there was also the disclosure of direct dealings of Montesclaros group, an in-law of Governor Niel Tupas, questioned since then on issues of propriety, regularity and legality.
Ilonggo solons Arthur Defensor (Third District), Committee chair, Ferjinel Biron (Fourth District) and Janette Garin (First District) took turns in grilling the resource persons with the Japanese contractors aided by their counsel, Roberto Maroma. Incidentally, Maroma is also a known Capitol figure as consultant to the Governor.
The deportation issue was reached upon the query of Garin on the issues surrounding supposed violations of a quarry operator, Francis Clyde Construction.
'Yes, I made the motion and has asked the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation's presence in the next hearing. My query is on the reported temporary visa of the Japanese contractors . And if it will be proven that the Francis Clyde violation was with their knowledge, then it is a violation of the Constitution and is a basis for deportation,' the lady solon explained.
The House investigation has one more scheduled hearing to go before it finally folds up and come up with its recommendation.
To note, Defensor has since stressed that on top of their efforts 'in aid of legislation' is the greater need to ascertain the claims of corruption, anomalies and irregularities in the project implementation.
Mario Andon of the Airport Concern Alliance (ACA) and among the principal member of the Project Affected People (PAP) group welcomed the probe development particularly the earlier call of Fifth District Representative Rolex Suplico for the scrapping of the contract.
'Dapat lang gid nga i-cancel ang kontrata (The contract should really be cancelled),' he began when reached by The News Today for comment. 'The process of construction, Taishie left it to the control of sub-contractors who in turn are controlled by the Local Government Units (LGUs). As such, the salaries of the workers, the airport laborers go through several cuts. By canceling the contract with the unacceptable work slippage, ACA and PAP will be vindicated with its position then that in the first place, the government should have rescinded it.'