Marcos names members of independent body to probe flood control mess
Metro Manila, Philippines - Malacañang on Saturday, Sept. 13, named a former Cabinet member and a top accounting official as members of the independent commission tasked to investigate alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Singson — the public works secretary during the Noynoy Aquino administration — as part of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which will probe flood control and related projects within the last 10 years.
In a television interview in August, Singson said he received "feelers" from Marcos to lead the embattled Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Secretary Manuel Bonoan still enjoyed Marcos' trust at the time. Vince Dizon became DPWH secretary when Bonoan resigned effective Sept. 1.
Singson will be joined by Rossana Fajardo, country managing partner of top auditing firm SGV and Co., in the ICI.
Marcos will personally announce the chairperson "in the coming days," Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
Castro said Malacañang said Singson and Fajardo were competent to lead the deep probe on corruption, not connected to any agency or contractor, and not politicians.
"Boluntaryo ang pagtanggap nila sa tungkulkin na ito. Hindi sila hinihirang para ipagtanggol ang sistema kung hindi para harapin ito," she said.
[Translation: They voluntarily accepted the position. They were not appointed to protect the system, but to face it.]
Singson headed the DPWH from 2010 to 2016, and before that the Bases Conversion and Development Authority from 1998 to 2002.
Fajardo of SGV, a major professional services firm, has over three decades of experience in auditing internal controls and risk management and identifying weaknesses in financial systems and operational processes, Malacañang said.
Marcos also appointed Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as ICI special adviser, acting as its investigator.
The president previously said he would not tap politicians for the independent commission.
"Malaki ang magiging tulong din naman po kung ano ang nalalaman ni Mayor Magalong, so bigyan natin siya ng pagkakataon," Castro said, adding this will be Magalong's chance to serve the public interest.
[Translation: Mayor Magalong's knowledge on the scandal will be a big help to the commission, so let's give him a chance.]
"Kung ano ang makukuha niya sa pamamagitan ng kanyang effort maaari niya itong ibigay sa ICI," she said.
[Translation: Whatever information he will get through his efforts can be forwarded to the ICI.]
Magalong, a retired police officer, has been vocal about alleged anomalies in government infrastructure projects. He was former deputy director general of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and former director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
Castro said the commission will work immediately, but will have no deadline to allow it to review documents.
Malacañang said the independent fact-finding commission will not interfere in the DPWH cleansing.
'Freedom of expression respected'
Meanwhile, Castro said Marcos is supportive of the public display of disapproval of corruption.
On Friday, students from the University of the Philippines Diliman walked out of their classrooms to show defiance amid revelations of alleged fraudulent spending of public funds. It was among the recent protests mounted related to the flood control scandal.
Some groups have also called on the public to join them in the streets on Sept. 21.
"The president will always respect this freedom of expression," Castro said. "Kung ano ang nararamdaman na sentimyento ng ating mga taumbayan, yan ay iginagalang [The public sentiment is respected]."
Malacañang said it hopes no personalities will take advantage of the public dismay to destabilize the government.
