THE joint House Committees on Government Enterprises and on Labor are expected to conclude the congressional inquiry into the controversial transfer of franchise and management of the Philippine National Construction Co. (PNCC) to Skyway O&M Corp. (Somco) before Congress adjourns sine die on June 13, with the recommendation of filing of charges in court against PNCC-Somco officials involved.

Party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros of Akbayan made the confirmation on Tuesday, saying that the joint panel headed by Lakas Rep. Felix Alfelor of Camarines Sur and Liberal Party Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo of Valenzuela City, respectively, will conduct its second and final hearing on the issue on June 11.

“The Committees on Government Enterprises and on Labor will conclude hearings on my resolution on Wednesday, June 11,” Hontiveros said, stressing, “I expect the hearing to be concluded with the recommendation by the committee chairmen and members the filing of both administrative and criminal charges against the PNCC officials involved in the ‘anomalous’ transfer.”

Alfelor, whose committee is the head panel in the hearing on House Resolution 396 filed by Hontiveros, earlier promised to conduct a follow-up hearing on the issue before Congress adjourns sine die on June 13.

Alfelor said the joint committee has sent invitations to several key officials of PNCC, Somco and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), including PNCC president Maria Theresa Defensor and TRB chairman Manuel Imperial to explain the circumstances and alleged secret deals that transpired between the PNCC and Somco.

“They cannot be absent in this hearing. We really have to hear their explanations on how the transfer happened despite failure on Somco’s part to seek a franchise from Congress,” Alfelor said.

Asked what if those “important” officials failed to show up, Alfelor said, “we have no option but to recommend the filing of charges against them.”

Alfelor earlier expressed his strong conviction that Somco is indeed operating illegally for not having secured a franchise from Congress.

Alfelor maintained that Imperial could be held administratively, if not criminally, liable for issuing a transfer-of-operation certificate to Somco to legalize its operation.

Aside from Imperial, Defensor is among the key resource persons, which, according to the joint panel, have “very important” things to explain before legislators.

Defensor was accused of having secretly signed on July 18, 2007 the Amendment to the Supplemental Tollway Operation Agreement (Astoa) with the TRB and Citra-Somco.

Hontiveros earlier said that the transactions were hidden from the people, especially to the displaced PNCC workers, and therefore the transfer of PNCC operation is “highly anomalous.”

“The hearing scheduled on Wednesday is the chance for all of them, Imperial, Defensor and all others to present their side, and defend how the operation of Somco becomes legal and justifiable as they think,” Hontiveros pointed out.

She said that during the first congressional hearing conducted by the joint panel in April, both Alfelor and Gunigundo agreed that the Astoa provisions “were very anomalous” enough to file a case before the Ombudsman, and that the PNCC-Somco officials had not been transparent to the Skyway employees who were displaced when the transfer of operation took effect.

State schools have enough tutors–Lapus

EDUCATION Secretary Jesli Lapus on Tuesday assured the public there are enough teachers for public elementary and secondary schools nationwide.

THE Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (Creba) on Tuesday asked the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City to stop the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) from implementing the land-conversion ban and other “oppressive” rules “that go beyond its authority and violate the Constitution and other laws.”

SENATORS said they would not be stampeded into passing a Palace-certified urgent bill extending the government’s controversial agrarian-reform program, or CARP, which is due to expire this month.

FARMERS from Tineg, Abra, have asked President Arroyo to relieve Chief Supt. Eugene Martin as Cordillera police commander, for his alleged failure to solve a spate of killings in their town and for harassing Mayor Edwin Crisologo.

CANADA wants to follow the tack of the United States and other countries that have existing military agreements with the Philippines by engaging Filipino soldiers in war exercises.

THE joint House Committees on Government Enterprises and on Labor are expected to conclude the congressional inquiry into the controversial transfer of franchise and management of the Philippine National Construction Co. (PNCC) to Skyway O&M Corp. (Somco) before Congress adjourns sine die on June 13, with the recommendation of filing of charges in court against PNCC-Somco officials involved.

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The National Counter Terrorism Action Group (Nactag) chief, Arturo Lomibao, said the group is adopting “target-hardening” measures to prevent a repetition of the bombings that have hit this city.