By Fel V. Maragay

Opposition senators are calling for the immediate resumption of the inquiry into the blacklisting of three local construction firms by the World Bank, but Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, chairman of the probing committee, is not buckling under their pressure.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said he would like to continue grilling Eduardo de Luna, owner of the E.C. de Luna Construction, on his alleged delivery of a P70-million bribe to First Gentleman Juan Miguel Arroyo in exchange for a Pl.4-trillion contract to repair a stretch of Edsa.

Santiago yesterday remained firm on her position that it would be useless to resume the hearing unless Lacson could present his witness who supposedly knew De Luna?s connection with the First Gentleman.

?I am giving two weeks for the witness to appear. And chances are he will not surface anymore. So there is no point holding a hearing if there is no witness or evidence to prove the allegation against the First Gentleman,? she said. ?But so far, there is no evidence. The evidence is all hearsay.?

Lacson complained that Santiago cut short the public hearing on Jan. 27 to only two hours, preventing him from further questioning De Luna. He had the support of Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. who criticized Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for dismissing Lacson?s bribery tale as mere hearsay in the absence of a witness who has first-hand knowledge of the whole thing.

Pimentel said while Enrile may be correct in saying that Lacson?s revelations may be considered hearsay at this point, it creates the impression about an effort to disparage the evidence.

?What he said may be technically, legally correct. But then its implication is that, let us put a stop to the hearing,? he said in a statement.

Lacson said his purpose in citing the links between De Luna and Mr. Arroyo was to show there is basis for the existence of a favored group of contractors that is operating like a cartel, as found out by the World Bank.

E.C. De Luna, Cavite Ideal and CM Pancho were the three construction firms blacklisted by the World Bank for allegedly engaging in ?collusive, fraudulent and corrupt practices? in bidding for public works projects.

Lacson said contrary to De Luna?s assertion that he had met with Mr. Arroyo only three times, a 2002 appointment book allegedly belonging to the First Gentleman allegedly showed that they had met at least 20 times for that year alone. The senator said the appointments book was given to him by Gaudencio ?Odong? Mahusay, who once served as messenger of the First Gentleman at his office in the LTA building in Makati City.

But Santiago said the appointment book has no probative value unless it is authenticated as belonging to the First Gentleman and the entries are accurate.

?So far, there is no evidence, there is no documentary evidence because the appointment book has not been authenticated pursuant to the law,? she said.