ICI flood control hearings to be livestreamed

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will begin livestreaming its hearings on the ongoing flood control corruption probe amid public clamor.

This was confirmed by ICI Chairperson and retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr. during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, October 22.

Reyes said the 39-day-old commission was previously unable to open its hearings to the public due to a lack of technical facilities and formal rules of procedure.

“But we [have] already shortened the procedure, in spite of no rules allowing us, we will now go on livestream next week once we get to be able to have the technical capability with us already.” Reyes said.

He did not mention a specific date.

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, welcomed the announcement. He has repeatedly called for the commission’s proceedings to be made public.

“People would like to know the facts of these cases and would like to be updated as to the developments and progress of the investigation,” he said.

The ICI is one of several bodies probing multibillion-peso anomalies in flood control projects allegedly involving lawmakers, government contractors, and other officials.

Meanwhile, the Senate is currently tackling proposed legislation to institutionalize an Independent People’s Commission that would investigate irregularities in all infrastructure projects. Pangilinan said he will formally request President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify the measure as urgent to fast-track its passage.