House probe on Iloilo airport mess out this week
Members of Congress will officially hear the findings of the House Committee on Good Government relative to the investigation done on the multi-billion New Iloilo Airport Development Project (NIADP).
With the project construction hounded by allegations of massive graft and corruption starting on its "conception" stage, Representative Arthur Defensor (Third District, Iloilo) led the extensive probe. Altogether, the House public hearings gathered key officials of the Iloilo Provincial Government headed by Governor Niel Tupas Sr., top national government agency heads such as Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza and local chief executives of at least two Iloilo towns.
No initial nor unofficial information was released regarding the Committee's findings however Defensor in an earlier radio interview said the results and corresponding recommendations primarily relied on documents and testimonies gathered from resource persons subpoenaed.
Talks abound though of administrative and criminal complaints that will be lodged against prominent Capitol figures and local government officials found by the Committee to have gone beyond their exercise of what is "within the bounds of law."
The Committee report is expected to be read in its entirety before the plenary as the Lower House resumes its regular session. From thereon, a vote will be sought whether to adopt the Committee's findings or not.
The House probe was realized after Ilonggo solons gathered enough signatures to support a congressional hearing on the subject brought to their attention.
Board Member Manny Gallar was among the primary movers in the Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan.
Asked for comment, Gallar said he remains optimistic on the Committee's findings as he maintained that in the end, what should matter is that justice will be served on the "hard-earned tax money of a struggling Ilonggo."