Iloilo SP nails down Convention Center project
Any and all hopes for a P350 million convention center courtesy of the Iloilo Provincial Government are officially gone.
In fact, in the words of Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico - “dead.” The convention center project – as far as the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian (SP) is concerned – is dead with legislative decision reached to forget and forego of the plan.
The ultimate factor that triggered the renewed objection was the bribery attempt made to three board members. After a closed-door executive meeting Monday, Suplico joined by other board members made the statement before Capitol press.
“The pet project of Governor Niel Tupas Sr. - the Convention Center – it is dead. We will not revive it,” Suplico categorically said.
Yet not the same can be said on the failed attempt of two Manila-based Chinese businessmen to bribe the board members.
With an investigation sought from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Vice Governor Suplico was clear with his sentiments.
“I do not want that under my watch the names of the SP members will be soiled,” an angered Suplico said.
Suplico said he will also ask the NBI to verify reports that the governor's son, former board member and now Iloilo Rep. Niel (Jun-Jun) Tupas Jr., has received P17.5 million or 5 percent of the project cost from the contractor.
Representative Tupas denied the allegation.
“The story came out from Suplico, our political opponent. He is hallucinating. His dirty mind is imagining too much. I advise him to see a doctor of a mental institution,” Tupas said in a text message yesterday.
The details on the bribery attempt were made clearer with two of the three subject board members now talking.
It all apparently began with Third District Board Member Mar Malones who got a call from Manuel Mejorada, top aide of Governor Niel Tupas Sr.
Malones told The News Today (TNT) that Mejorada requested him to meet his guests who wanted to discuss matters regarding the convention center project. The schedule was eventually set in the afternoon of January 27th with The Promenade of the Days Hotel as venue.
Malones in return invited Second District Board Member June Mondejar and Fifth District Board Member Jett Rojas. The two were in his office on a chance visit after the session.
While waiting in The Promenade, Malones said Mejorada called again to check his whereabouts.. He was also told that the “guests” were on their way.
In minutes, two Chinese businessmen showed up, one now known as a certain Cedric Lee. Malones said the two lost no time in bringing up the offer. They were reportedly blunt too in saying they have “something” for them – board members who will help push the project.
Malones said he was outrightly shocked, offended and somehow amused at the boldness of the Chinese guests. One followed up the statement by saying P300,000 is set aside for each of them with an outright downpayment of P50,000.
Board Member Rojas who was likewise taken aback of what was transpiring cut short the Chinese guy. He said he was so offended by what happened and made a deriding remark, “Pare, alam mo this man is the bamboo king in Iloilo . He also owns the biggest printing press in Iloilo .” The statement failed to apparently impress the Chinese who replied, “madami ka na palang pera nagpolitika ka pa” or words to that effect.
Rojas is just “charging it to experience” though saying he will not really pursue any legal action “in my own personal capacity.”
“Sadly, I have a very bad experience with how our justice system works,” a subdued Rojas explained to Capitol reporters.
Rojas further added that in the course of the conversation, the name of a top Capitol official was mentioned by the Chinese businessmen. Rojas however was advised by his lawyer to cease from divulging the Capitol official's name.
“They said that he has already said okay to the project... they also said that they already got the two Salcedos (referring to Board Members Jesus and Jeneda Salcedo) which I highly doubted,” Rojas further disclosed. “I was very clear with them that I cannot help them though.”
Same sentiments from Board Member Jeneda Salcedo.
“As a member (of the SP), I find it not reasonable and a waste of time and money to put up a convention center here. The issue for us is already dead,” the lady board member said.
Reached for comment by phone on Sunday, Mejorada confirmed that he helped arranged the meeting but did not attend it.
“(Lee) asked helped in finding out if the project can still push through because they already have a substantial exposure and has not received any payment from the province,” said Mejorada.
But he said he was unaware of what transpired in the meeting and have no knowledge of the alleged bribery attempt.
Mejorada said SCC I has spent around P7 million in preparing the architectural plans and specifications. (with reports from Nestor Burgos Jr.)