Zubiri on probable fraud in New Senate Bldg construction: ‘Absolutely none’

AURORA, Philippines — Former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri is confident that the Senate panel on accounts will see no irregularities as it delves deeper into the costs of the New Senate Building in Taguig.

The Senate panel on accounts — now headed by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano – will probe some issues hounding the New Senate Building (NSB), particularly its allegedly ballooning costs, on July 3.

“Yes. Absolutely — wala talaga,” Zubiri told reporters in an ambush interview in Baler after he was asked if the panel would see no anomalies in funding or at least misappropriation of funds related to the establishment.

(Yes. Absolutely — there will really be none.)

“Actually, I inherited the project from Sen. Sotto and Sen. Lacson at si Sen. Sotto naman, lalong lalo na si Sen. Lacson, ay talagang stickler yan for accountability and transparency,” he recalled.

(Actually, I inherited the project from Sen. Sotto and Sen. Lacson, and Sen. Sotto, most particularly Sen. Lacson, are really sticklers for accountability and transparency.)

“So pag upo ko po bilang Senate president, sabi ko, kailangan transparent ito. Kailangang ito po ay above board. Wala po tayong pipirmahan dyan kung hindi natin makikita kung saan galing ang mga materyales na ito,” Zubiri said.

(So when I assumed Senate Presidency, I made it clear that this should be transparent. This should be above board. We will sign no papers if we will not see where the materials will be used.)

“Dapat dumaan sa tamang sistema, paraan, dumaan sa procurement service law at yan po ang aking pinabuya at pinagsabi sa ating accounts chair, Sen. Nancy Binay, and I think she’s done a great job,” he added.

(It should follow the proper system, ways and procurement service. I left that to our accounts chair, Sen. Nancy Binay, and I think she’s done a great job.)

READ: Escudero wants P23-billion new Senate building reviewed: Parang OA

According to the former Senate leader, there is a pressing need for the Senate to have its own building.

This view led him to call on new Senate President Chiz Escudero to expedite the inquiry on the matter.

“I am hoping and I am appealing to Sen. Chiz Escudero to take the inquiries as soon as possible para ituloy na po nila ang — maibalik po nila – ang schedule ng pag turn over ng ang New Senate Building,” said Zubiri.

Escudero earlier ordered a review of NSB’s construction cost.

This review comes after Cayetano informed him about an apparent “dramatic increase” in the cost, from an initial budget of P8 billion to a projected P23.3 billion.

The NSB’s construction began in 2019 under then-Senate President Vicente Sotto III.