Metro Manila, Philippines – Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Commissioner Rossana Fajardo has resigned effective Dec. 31, making her the third member of the investigating body who quit since it was formed to probe the multi-billion peso irregularities on infrastructure deals.
In a statement released on Friday, Dec. 26, Fajardo said she has already completed the work she was tasked to do, in particular, the areas of financial oversight and infrastructure project investigations.
“My contributions have led to recommendations aimed at improving government procurement and budgeting processes related to infrastructure projects,” she said.
“I believe that the investigative and prosecutorial responsibilities will now transition to other agencies, such as the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman, which are better positioned to ensure accountability for contractors and government officials,” Fajardo added.
The ICI commissioner also said a permanent commission with stronger powers would be more effective in supporting the ombudsman to prosecute those involved in corruption.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier asked Congress to “prioritize” the passage of the Independent People’s Commission Act that would institutionalize the investigating body. The president, however, did not certify it as urgent.
Fajardo’s departure leaves only ICI Chairman Andres Reyes in the original composition of the commission after Rogelio Singson’s resignation took effect on Dec. 15.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong was the first to quit as special adviser in September, and was replaced by former PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr.
‘Finalizing’ work
In a separate statement on Dec. 26, Reyes said the commission will focus on finalizing the remaining case referrals it will submit to the Ombudsman that may be filed in court.
Reyes – who previously said their work will last for two years – now said the ICI was created with a “clear and time-bound mandate” of gathering evidence, establishing facts, and proposing corrective measures.
“The Commission remains fully committed to submitting all its final recommendations and ensuring that the appropriate institutions — particularly the Ombudsman — have everything they need to bring these cases forward,” he said.
The Ombudsman has so far filed two cases in court from ICI’s flood control investigation: the Oriental Mindoro case involving former House appropriations chairman Zaldy Co and the Davao Occidental ‘ghost’ project involving contractor Sarah Discaya, who is now in detention.
“The ICI has also initiated efforts to recover billions of pesos through partnerships with the Anti- Money Laundering Council and other agencies of government. To date, more than P20.3 billion of assets have already been frozen,” Reyes said.
The ICI chief noted his agency made a number of recommendations to reform the system, including the creation of a national registry and blacklisting system for contractors to permanently bar repeat offenders involved in ghost projects, the strengthening of whistleblower protection and independent reporting mechanisms, and the institutionalization of a permanent fact-finding body on large-scale infrastructure corruption, among others.
Ombudsman Boying Remulla said earlier this month that the commission has only a month or two to wrap up its probe of flood control anomalies.
In a statement, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Fajardo has already finished her job in the commission, noting that Malacañang recognizes her integral role in the flood control probe.
She said ICI’s work with other investigating bodies continues, despite the successive exits of its commissioners.
“Hindi pa tapos ang laban ng administrasyon kontra korapsyon,” Castro said.
[Translation: The fight of this administration against corruption is not yet over.]
The Palace has yet to announce the replacements of Singson and Fajardo.
