People hiding info on Senate bldg project — Cayetano
SEN. Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday appealed to Sen. Nancy Binay, members of the Senate Coordinating Team (SCT), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to “tell the whole truth” in the ongoing review of the new Senate building (NSB) project.
Cayetano, chairperson of the Committee on Accounts, expressed frustration that information has allegedly been hidden from the panel about the NSB project.
“Just this week, I found out, maraming tinatago sa atin. Sinong nagtatago, bakita nagtatago, I haven’t gotten to that. But we received caches, halos half room full of documents. We’re going through them (Just this week, I found out that there is a lot of information being withheld from us. Who hid them? Why hide them? I haven’t gotten to that. But we received caches, almost half a room full of documents. We’re now going through them),” he said.
He said he would identify “in the proper time” the people who are hiding information about the project even as he said: “Siguro ang aking appeal kay Sen. Nancy, sa SCT, DPWH: Tell the whole truth. Review lang ito. Hindi ko alam bakit, you know, ganyan ang nagiging reaksyon ng marami — either frozen or nagkakalat ng gossip tungkol sa amin, or politically, may attacks, when what we are doing is (just a) review (I am appealing to Sen. Nancy, to the SCT, and the DPWH: Tell the whole truth. This is only a review. I don’t know why they are reacting this way — either frozen, or they are spreading gossip about us, or politically, there are attacks when what we are doing is [just a] review).”
“Remember lying is not only not telling you the truth, but is also telling you half-truths and withholding the truth so that you do not come (telling) the whole truth,” he added.
Cayetano said the documents that he received came from various sources, not just from the DPWH.
He said that it was while he was initially going through the documents that he realized that there were changes to the project that were not reported to the accounts committee.
“That’s what I’m saying. They’re not being forthright. That’s not good kasi nga hindi natin ma-evaluate maigi kung ganyan ang sasabihin (That’s not good because we cannot make a good evaluation of the project if they will not tell us the truth),” he said.
He said one of the new information that he uncovered was related to the design of the building faí§ade, which was initially set at P1 billion.
Cayetano said that in the report initially provided to the committee, the amount was reduced to P498 million.
However, he said that if data in the documents that were furnished to the panel are true, the amount could end up at P2.9 billion. He did not give additional details.
Cayetano said the committee has yet to identify who is at fault for why the project cost has gone up.
“I don’t know who is most guilty and sinong natatakot lang or sa tingin nila wala sa kanilang posisyon to speak out… Parang every after hearing, may darating na dokumento, mali na pala ‘yung pinag-uspan kasi luma na pala
(I don’t know who is most guilty, or who’s just afraid because they are not in the position to speak out… It seems that every after hearing, documents are being given to the committee, and then we find out that what we have discussed during the hearing are all already outdated,” he said.
Cayetano said the DPWH estimate of P25 billion to P27 billion to finish the new Senate building could have been a “conservative” figure if changes in the project design were going to be implemented.
“It’s coming out so far to be the most expensive building in the country and that’s gonna be sad,” he said, but added: “We’ll still try to remedy that.”
He said he will discuss with Senate President Francis Escudero the latest development in his panel’s review.
He said he would likewise talk with Binay today to discuss the project.
“For as long as huwag lang maapektuhan ‘yung resulta nung review… Ibig sabihin, secondary ‘yung relationship namin. Secondary yung, if I can use the word, ‘tampuhan.’ As I said, I’m not perfect, I apologized to the public… But because of that, God works in mysterious ways. Maraming lumabas. Marami kaming nakita ngayon (For as long as the results of the review will not be affected… Meaning, our difference should only be secondary. As I said, I am not perfect, I have apologized to the public… But because of that, God works in mysterious ways (because) many information were discovered and we saw a lot of them),” Cayetano said.
REVIEW
Cayetano said his committee aims to complete its review and come out with recommendations by next month, or August, to prevent further delays that could make the building more expensive.
“We want to do the technical decisions all within the month of August para walang further delays, or every few months inflation na naman at tataas na naman ang cost niyan (to prevent further delays, or else in a few months from now, the cost of materials will increase again because of inflation),” he said.
He said he remains committed to finding a solution to lower the cost of the project while preserving its original design.
The Committee on Accounts has so far conducted two hearings on the project.
CONCILIATION
Cayetano said he has yet to see the revised rules adopted by the Committee on Ethics and Privileges about the complaint filed by Binay against him.
Senate majority leader Francis Tolentino on Wednesday said the panel has agreed to include a conciliation process to amicably settle the differences between Binay and Cayetano.
Tolentino said that if the mediation process does not succeed, the committee will then proceed to hear Binay’s complaint.
“I’ll wait for the final draft ng rules. But I think it’s a good idea na magka (to have a) conciliation. But in this case kasi, this is all about the new Senate building — the delays and the costs — and developing ‘yung story (and it is a developing story),” Cayetano said.
Cayetano said he will not be distracted by the ethics complaint and will remain focused on his panel’s review of the NSB.
“So, let me continue my review. I will make a statement kung sinu-sino sila. That’s why I will not be distracted by Sen. Nancy Binay or the ethics committee. Now, if they want to come forward, and di ba parating sinasabi usap-usap, simple lang sinabi ko sa kanilang lahat — gumawa kayo ng timeline (Let me continue my review. I will make a statement and identify who they are. That’s why I will not be distracted by Sen. Nancy Binay or the ethics committee. Now, if they want to come forward because they are always saying that we should talk, then come up with a timeline),” Cayetano said.
