Manila, Philippines – The string of voluntary exits from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) could lead to its dissolution, leaving unfinished business where public officials behind the flood control corruption scheme have yet to be held accountable and billions of pesos in taxpayers’ money remain unrecovered, House lawmakers said on Friday, Dec. 26.
“This can very well be the end of ICI. Dapat kasi meron nang ICAIC by now,” House Deputy minority leader and Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said in a statement.
De Lima was referring to a bill she championed at the House of Representatives, the creation of the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption (ICAIC), aimed at combatting corruption in state-funded infrastructure works.
The lawmaker and allies from the minority bloc last week blamed Malacanang for dragging its feet and not certifying that bill as urgent before the death of former Public Works Undersecretary Cathy Cabral, a key figure in the flood control mess.
The resignation of ICI Commissioner Rossana Fajardo follows earlier departures by Rogelio Singson and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong from the independent body that was formed just a few months ago following bombshell revelations about the corruption behind public works budget.
“The ICI is a lost cause. Its members have resigned, it has no real transparency, and its credibility always in question,” the Makabayan bloc said in a separate statement.
“It was created to make it appear Marcos was serious about investigating corruption. Three months since its creation, it has unraveled and has exposed the empty anti-corruption rhetoric of the Marcos regime,” it added.
The bloc earlier wrote to the ICI seeking the inclusion of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and the first family in its investigation.
“We have not heard from the ICI regarding our request to investigate Marcos and his resigned officials for the issue of corruption. ICI appears selective and has no interest in going up the highest levels of government to uncover corruption,” Makabayan said in its statement.
Also included in the lawmakers’ pleading was an ICI probe into flood control projects in Davao, the bailiwick of the Duterte family.
“We also do not know the status of our request for investigation into the Davao flood control projects. Rep. [Pulong] Duterte did not accept the ICI’s invitation. It’s proof that the ICI cannot really do so much in uncovering corruption if resource persons refuse to cooperate,” it added.
NewsWatch Plus business news anchor Lois Calderon contributed to this story.
