Capitol advisor cries foul on bribery charges
'We are the victims here,' firm exec says
The top executive of a firm serving as “financial advisor” of Governor Niel Tupas Sr. on the matter of constructing a convention center has finally spoken. And he did so yesterday in behalf of Chinese businessman Cedric Lee. Lee is at the very center of the controversial bribery yarn involving three of Iloilo's top officials.
Rico Gonzales, president of Strategic and Comprehensive Consultants Incorporated (SCCI) called The News Today (TNT) to explain the nature of Lee's Iloilo visit. The SCCI has since been involved in the convention center project serving as “lobbyist” or officially, “Financial Advisor” of the governor.
Foremost of his statement was to deny the bribery attempt exposed by two board members present in the January 27th meeting. Neither Lee or his associate did all that, Gonzales said explaining that the Chinese businessmen were sent here in their capacity as technical associates of SCCI.
“We have been working on this project for three years now... kung manunuhol kami, bakit ngayon lang?,” Gonzales said. This, he pointed out while stressing that the SCCI have diligently worked on the requirements and feasibility study if only to have the project realized.
Part of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Capitol, Gonzales shared, was for them to look for the project's funding sources. He mentioned Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) as among the possibilities.
“We make this appeal to Vice Governor Rolex Suplico and members of the provincial board – kami ay biktima ng usaping pulitika... sana naman huwag kaming idamay. We hope that they will be open to discussions so we can defend the project,” Gonzales continued.. “The convention center, as per study and interviews we made with the people there, it is very advantageous to the Provincial Government.”
Pressed for clarification on the SCCI's deal with the Capitol, Gonzales said some P7 million has thus far been spent in pursuing the project.
“This is the risk that we are taking,” he quipped.
As for the SP body's collective stance that the project is “dead” and “gone,” Gonzales appealed, “We hope that the provincial board will be open for discussions. We respect their opinion but we hope that they will also listen to our side and not railroad the process.”
Gonzales replaced David Buenavacz, then Tupas' celebrity financial advisor who left the country over a separate issue with former business partners in Makati City.
Buenavacz in late 2007 appeared before members of the 9thIloilo SP in a bid to get the SP body's nod on the P350 million Iloilo project.
Questions were raised though on Buenavacz' manner of presentation that had Ilonggo government planners dismiss the SCCI feasibility study.
Buenavacz in an interview then with Capitol reporters expressed his dismay over the lack of interest and approval of the 9th SP. Such as he stressed his expertise while using other government projects as example that SCCI purportedly pursued.
SCCI the TNT learned was behind the P390 million San Juan City Coliseum and the Pasig City Public Market valued at P500 million.