Tupas, aide downplay House probe results
TUPAS
As expected, Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. and his top aide Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada downplayed the result of the House Committee on Good Government investigation on the alleged anomalies pertaining to the construction of the New Iloilo Airport Development Project (NIADP) in Sta. Barbara-Cabatuan area.
In a press conference with Capitol beat reporters Mejorada said the House investigation was nothing but a "fishing expedition and witch hunting"; to pin down Governor Tupas.
He said there was nothing in the committee's findings that would prove that Tupas was involved in the alleged anomalies relative to the implementation of the NIADP.
Tupas for his part welcomed the probe result hauling him to the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Tupas said he is not afraid as the previous cases filed against him in the Ombudsman, also relative to alleged anomalies in the airport project, were all dismissed.
Tupas also assailed the investigating panel composed of congressmen belonging to the camp of his political opponents.
The House Committee on Good Government is headed by third district Rep. Arthur Defensor with Representatives Rolex Suplico (fifth district), Judy Syjuco (second district), Ferjenel Biron (fourth district) and Janet Garin (first district) as members.
Even before the House probe results came out, Tupas already expressed that 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.
Mejorada assailed the committee's findings that Francis Clyde Construction Supply, a subcontractor in the burrow pit extraction, has no technical capability and resources to undertake quarry operations without examining the records of the firm.
Mejorada learned that the committee did not invite any representative from Francis Clyde.
Francis Clyde, allegedly, was a dummy of the governor.
Mejorada also cited the committee's findings linking Tupas to businessman Melvin Requinto who operates a rock crusher in Maasin, Iloilo which is actually owned by Tupas' "balaye"; Marianito Montesclaros who is from Bukidnon.
Mejorada said a regional trial court ruled that Requinto's business operation was legitimate making the House findings inconsistent with the court's decision.
Further, Mejorada in his radio program over Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo last Saturday claimed that resource persons invited to the hearings were not given ample time to have their voices heared.
He said there are even resource persons who kept invited to Manila for the hearings but were not able to speak in front of the investigating panel.