Tupas to Ilonggo solons: Bring airport case to court or Ombudsman
Amid talks that the result of the investigation of the House Committee on Good Government on the alleged anomalies at the New Iloilo Airport Development Project (NIADP) is about to come out, Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. challenged his detractors to file cases against him in court or the Sandiganbayan.
Tupas reacted to the reported statement of his nephew fifth district Rep. Rolex Suplico that it is most likely that the result of the congressional inquiry would be unfavorable to the governor.
Suplico, one of the four Ilonggo representatives who grilled Tupas in the investigations, reportedly said that he would haul his uncle to court once the result of the investigation comes out.
Tupas said he would gladly welcome the filing of the case in court or in the Ombudsman so that the truth will come out.
Tupas said he does not expect a favorable ruling from the House investigation as the investigating panel were all his political opponents.
"How can you expect the investigation to be fair when the investigators are the same people who criticize you left and right?" Tupas said.
The House Committee on Good Government is headed by third district Rep. Arthur Defensor with Representatives Suplico, Judy Syjuco (second district), Ferjenel Biron (fourth district) and Janet Garin (first district) as members.
Said congressmen and Tupas belong to opposing political camps.
"It would be better if they bring the matter to independent bodies like the court or the Ombudsman, anyway all the seven cases filed against me before were all dismissed," Tupas quipped.
"I am not afraid because I have nothing to hide," the governor insisted.
The nine-month House investigation triggered by the expose of third district Board Member Emmanuel Gallar ended December last year with key officials of the Iloilo Provincial Government headed by Tupas and several national government agency heads as resource persons.
The investigation centered on the alleged anomalies in the implementation of the P6.2 billion NIADP in Sta.Barbara-Cabatuan area.
The NIADP however has continued construction despite the controversy and is expected to be completed by March 2007.