World-renowned Filipino architect Felino Palafox Jr. has asked the ethics committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives to investigate bidding irregularities in the Subic Metropolitan Development Authority.

Palafox, who appeared in yesterday?s hearing in Congress relative to the cutting of about 366 trees within the Subic free port, said he sought for the investigation in reaction to increasing pressure for him to prove his allegations.

?I have already given you the names of people who my sources said are of those supporting the construction of the controversial casino and hotel project of the Korean firm Gran Utopia. It is up for both chambers of Congress and anti-graft bodies concerned to look into the allegations,? he said.

Palafox last year backed out of the $120-million Gran Utopia?in effect losing $1 million (P48 million) in professional fees?after learning that the project would involve clearing 366 endangered trees in Subic?s Central Business District.

The architect, who is ranked 94th among the world?s top 200 architects and who has projects in 32 countries, also earlier complained to SBMA leaders that an official allegedly tried to extort 18 percent from his firm in order to approve the bid of the Palafox Associates in October 2007.

?I know my revelations against top government officials allegedly involved in irregularities will put me in hot water. Instead of earning praises, I?ve been getting brickbats and death threats from those challenging me to proof my allegations,?? he said.

?I really hope it is in my power to substantiate my claim, but I don?t have the capability to investigate graft and only key government agencies have the mandate and resources to do so. I hope that in fairness to the people I named, in fairness to me and the public, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, Commission on Audit, the National Bureau of Investigation and even the ethics committees of Congress will closely look into this matter,?? he said.

According to him, he was not accusing directly any of those named of wrongdoing but that he was only stating what others related to him.

?Don?t crucify me; I am just a humble messenger who happens to be an architect. Hitting me without investigating the allegations is both unfair to me, the people I named and all the Filipino taxpayers,?? he said.

According to Palafox, he had nothing to gain from the controversy and that his firm even lost P48 million in professional fees.