Top Contractors No-Show at Senate Flood Control Probe

The Senate will subpoena the owners of the top 15 contractors who cornered the lion's share of flood control projects under the Marcos administration, after more than half of them skipped yesterday's Blue Ribbon committee hearing on project anomalies.

- By Neil Jayson Servallos and Marc Cayabyab

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Only seven of the companies sent representatives to the Blue Ribbon hearing yesterday, prompting the committee to approve a motion to subpoena the owners of the 15 firms to compel them to attend the next hearing.

Only four companies were represented by their owners: Legacy Construction Corp. president Alex Abelido, QM Builders owner Allan Quirante, EGC Construction owner Ernie Baggao and Triple 8 Construction owner Wilfredo Natividad.

Among those who did not show up at yesterday's hearing was defeated Pasig mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya, who sent an excuse letter citing prior commitment. She was supposed to represent Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.

Apart from her, Roma Rimando of St. Timothy Construction Corp. also skipped the meeting, claiming she was still mourning the death of a foster parent.

Some of the contractors cited various reasons for their absence, such as medical procedures and overseas trip, while the others never replied to the Senate’s invitation.

“I hope this is not a sign of disinterest on their part because this meeting was called precisely to get to the bottom of this problem,” Blue Ribbon chairman Sen. Rodante Marcoleta said.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo lambasted the owners who did not attend the hearing, saying their excuses were flimsy.