ICC Senate hearing elicits reactions from Ilonggos

ILOILO – Social networking site Facebook was buzzing with reactions from ordinary citizens of the city and province of Iloilo who were glued on television watching the proceedings at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on allegations that Iloilo native Senate President Franklin Drilon had connived with Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson and Department of Tourism Ramon Jimenez, along with several others in overpricing the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center.

While there were some who sided with accuser Manuel Mejorada, majority of Ilonggos watching the hearing on cable television station ANC expressed support for Drilon.

“It’s only during his time that Iloilo has been placed in the map as a progressive city. Ilonggos are genuinely behind you, Senator Drilon,” enthused local architect Antonio Sangrador.

Many Ilonggos were also apparently disgusted with Mejorada’s statement labeling Iloilo as having “become a bird’s nest of corruption.”

“When we Ilonggos are at the height of having immense pride for our hometown, here comes someone with an accusation so grievous saying that Iloilo as a city and province is a bird’s nest of corruption,” said Fritz John Tiamsing Mingao.

“When asked what evidence he has, he points to Wikipedia. Goodness! That is not even acceptable in academic debates,” Mingao stressed.

Others were sarcastic and expressed that Mejorada should just return to Iloilo as he has become a virtual laughingstock for having no concrete evidence on his allegations of overpricing in the construction of the building designed to be the site in Iloilo for two important ministerial meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in 2015.

“Please, let us ban Mejorada in Iloilo,” expressed Richard Ravena.

Calls have been mounting online to declare Mejorada as persona non grata in the city and province of Iloilo.

While he once served as Iloilo provincial administrator, Mejorada actually hails from neighboring Capiz province.

Mejorada, who was once a consultant employed by Drilon, was fired by the latter after he was discovered by the Senate President using his (Drilon’s) social media accounts to attack his (Mejorada’s) own political enemies.

Mejorada has filed a case of graft and corruption, plunder and malversation of funds in the Ombudsman against Drilon, Singson, Jimenez, architect Willy Coscolluela and several others in connection with allegations that the 700 million Iloilo Convention Center being built on land donated by Megaworld in the latter’s Iloilo Business Park was overpriced.