House suspends hearings on anomalous infrastructure deals for ICI probe
Metro Manila, Philippines - The House infrastructure committee suspended its inquiry into alleged anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects, panel co-chairman Terry Ridon announced on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
Ridon said they are giving way to the “full and impartial” investigation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) established by the executive branch.
“The House Infrastructure Committee has full faith in the mandate, integrity and competence of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure,” Ridon said in a press briefing.
“We trust that through its work, the ICI will be able to ensure transparency, that it will be able to ensure accountability, and most important of all, that it will be able to ensure justice,” he added.
Ridon noted that their investigation was able to secure disclosures of financial statements of firms linked to contractor couple Sarah and Curlee Discaya and P1 billion in cash assets of MG Samidan Construction, one of the top flood control contractors.
He said the panel led to the resignation of members of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board over supposed unexplained wealth and licenses for sale.
Based on their inquiries, Ridon said they will propose legislation that will ensure a proponent in the budget will be identified.
They will also push for a stronger ICI, in which it could grant subpoena and contempt powers.
Measures that will ensure participation of the private sector in project inspections and civil society in project procurement will also be lobbied.
House Speaker Bojie Dy is set to meet with the ICI on Wednesday afternoon. He earlier said he prefers the flood control fiasco be investigated by the executive as there are doubts in the congressional inquiries after several lawmakers were implicated.
Among the lawmakers linked in the anomalous infrastructure projects are Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, former Senator Bong Revilla, House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co. All have denied the accusations.
