'Airport anomaly' whistleblower feels vindicated

By Erly C. Garcia

Board member Emmanuel Gallar expressed satisfaction with the way the House Committee on Good Government handles the congressional inquiry on alleged airport anomalies which was an offshoot of his expose in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last year.

Gallar said the committee on good government led by Rep. Arthur Defensor is really serious in their quest to find the truth behind the "anomalies" with regard to the implementation of the P6.2 billion New Iloilo Airport Development Project in Cabatuan-Sta. Barbara area.

Now on their third round of investigation, Gallar said, he is in a way vindicated as the committee indeed found irregularities in the implementation of the project particularly on quarry transactions and relocation of project affected families.

Gallar said he is still looking for more witnesses to prove his allegation that the implementation of the multi-billion project is anomalous.

"As the congressional investigation moves on the truth slowly comes out. I pity Gov. (Niel) Tupas," Gallar said.

The third round of congressional inquiry was held in Iloilo City last April 21.

Representatives Defensor, Raul Gonzalez Jr, Benasing Macarambon, Renato Magtubo, Rolex Suplico, Janette Garin, Ferjenel Biron and Crispin Remulla formed part of the panel.

What made the investigation remarkable is the presence of Tupas' former allies Badal Trompeta and Atty. Manny Justiniani.

Trompeta once served as one of the the governor's consultants while Justiniani was the former provincial legal officer.

Earlier, Defensor was quoted as saying that he would lead the investigation to the end.

He vowed to bring to court individuals found liable for irregularities relative to the implementation of the airport project.

Defensor, however, refused to comment on the status of the investigation because it is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, Tupas maintained that there is nothing anomalous with the project implementation even as he stressed that in-charge of the project is the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

He said the provincial government is merely implementing the project.

Tupas said he will be cleared of the allegations in the end.