Zubiri: No irregularities in new Senate building construction

With the Senate Committee on Accounts set to launch a public inquiry into issues related to the construction of the New Senate Building in Taguig City's Fort  Bonifacio, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday said he was confident there were no irregularities in the NSB's construction.

"Of course, absolutely. Wala talaga," said Zubiri when asked if there were no irregularities in the building.

The former Senate President noted that his leadership only "inherited" the project from  former Senators Vicente Sotto III and Panfilo Lacson, whom he tagged sticklers "for accountability and transparency."

"Pag-upo ko po  bilang Senate President, sabi ko kailangan transparent ito, kailangan  ito po ay aboveboard, wala po tayong pipirmahan d'yan kung hindi po  natin makikita kung saan galing itong mga materyales na ito. Dapat  dumaan po sa tamang sistema, paraan. Dumaan po sa procurement service  law," Zubiri said.

"At 'yan po ang aking, of course, pinaubaya at pinasabi sa ating accounts chair, Senator Nancy Binay. And I think  she's done a great job. So, everything's above board," he added.

Zubiri said that under his leadership, the target date of the Senate's transfer to Taguig was in January 2025.

"I'm hoping and appealing to Senator Chiz Escudero to make the inquiries as  soon as possible para ituloy na po nila, maibalik po nila ang schedule  ng pag-turnover ng ating new Senate building," he said.

Zubiri reiterated the need for the Senate building, saying the upper chamber paid around P500 million a year for its lease with the Government  Service Insurance System (GSIS).

'Nobody alleged irregularity'

In a separate ambush interview,  Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero reiterated that the NSB construction review was only meant to assess if the P10 billion for the third phase of the NSB was appropriate.

"Nobody alleged irregularity. I’m not alleging any irregularity. I never alleged irregularity. I don’t know why people are sounding too defensive about this," Escudero said.

"Ang sinabi ko lamang, hindi ba, masyadong mataas at parang masama sa panlasa na ganito kalaking halaga ang kailangang gastusin para sa isang gusali ng  pamahalaan... Masama lang sa panlasa. Kung payag kayo diyan, eh di kayo,  kaya niyo sigurong sikmurahin ‘yon. Ako hindi. At siguro trabaho at  obligasyon ko bilang tagapangulo ng Senado na tingnan yon, na  pag-aralan, suriin, at tingnan kung paano ito mapapababa," he added.

According to Escudero, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, as chairman of the Senate Accounts Committee,  called for a public inquiry on the NSB because the Department of Public  Works and Highways (DPWH) was "not cooperative."

"The reason why we need to call a hearing is so that the compulsory process of the Senate and the Senate committee would abide. The building issue and compulsory process to compel them to answer certain basic questions and to submit certain basic documents that according to Senator Cayetano is not being submitted on time," Escudero explained.

Last month, Escudero ordered a review of the increase in the budget for the NSB in Taguig, which he said ballooned to P23 billion.

Cayetano, who recommended the review, clarified that the construction of Phases 1 and 2 of the NSB  would push through despite the review. — DVM, GMA Integrated News