Lawmakers seek open proceedings on flood control probe
Metro Manila, Philippines - Lawmakers are urging the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Monday, Sept. 29, to livestream proceedings on the flood control project corruption for transparency.
ICI executive director and spokesperson Brian Keith Hosaka said the policy would avoid “trial by publicity.”
In separate statements, lawmakers said publicizing the developments will ensure accountability.
The policy was “ill-advised,” said Sen. Francis Pangilinan.
“Transparency is fundamental to public accountability… Do not test the people’s desire to know the truth. Baka magising ang mga miyembro ng ICI bukas at nag ra-rally na ang tao sa harap ng mga bahay ninyo,” he said.
[Translation: ICI members may wake up tomorrow with people protesting in front of their houses.]
Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña said people have the right to witness the proceedings as victims of stolen public funds.
“Kaya nga may naganap na pangungulimbat dahil hindi transparent ang proseso mula sa bicam hanggang sa project implementation. Pati ba naman sa investigation walang transparency?” Cendaña said.
[Translation: Embezzlement happened because the process from the bicameral conference committee to project implementation was not transparent. Even in the investigation, there’s no transparency?]
House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima said open proceedings will make sure that information gathered from the initial congressional inquiries matches those with the ICI.
“Paano mapapanatag ang mga Pilipino na walang pinagtatakpan at walang pinoprotektahan ang imbestigasyon nila?” she said. “Sa mga hearing na ito, hindi lang sa mga akusado nakatutok ang taumbayan, kundi pati na rin sa mga nag-iimbestiga—kung tapat at epektibo ba nilang nagagampanan ang kanilang tungkulin.”
[Translation: How will Filipinos be assured that there will be no cover-ups and the investigation is not protecting anybody? In these hearings, the public is not only focusing on the accused, but also the investigators – whether they are honestly and effectively doing their mandate.]
De Lima, Cendaña, and Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno appealed again for the approval of their Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption bill, which aims to livestream the proceedings and grant contempt powers to the body.
“Sa pamamagitan nito, masisiguro nating ang bawat mamamayan ay may access sa tamang impormasyon at may kakayahang makilahok sa mahahalagang usaping pampubliko,” Diokno said.
[Translation: Through the bill, we can be sure that each citizen will have access to the right information and they can join the discourse on vital public issues.]
The Senate is conducting an investigation into the flood control fiasco while the House of Representatives suspended its probe to make way for the ICI.
A number of lawmakers, Department of Public Works and Highways officials, and government contractors have been implicated in the mess, with 21 individuals recommended for case filing.
