Statement of ICI on Calls To Release Recordings of Past Flood Control Inquiries
ICI – The Independent Commission for Infrastructure refused to release its recordings of its past flood control hearing as well as to show evidence.
Several officials of the government were tagged in the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption. Among them are senators and congressmen who were accused by contractors and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of allegedly receiving “kickback” from the flood control projects. The DPWH also became the center of criticisms amid the issue.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives change their respective leaderships amid the flood control issue. Both former Senate President Chiz Escudero and Leyte Congressman Martin Romualdez who resigned from being the House speaker are accused of alleged flood control corruption. Pres. Bongbong Marcos ordered the creation of an independent commission to investigate the flood control issue.
The order of Marcos Jr. led to the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI. Tasked to investigate the flood control issue, it is a three-member body led by former Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr.
Sen. Chiz Escudero and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez are among the government officials who appeared before the ICI for the flood control inquiry. Amid the on-going investigation of the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption, there is a public clamor to livestream the hearings and to issue a copy of the recordings of the previous proceedings conducted by the commission.
Recently, ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr. spoke on the calls to release the recordings of past flood control hearings. Based on a report on GMA News, the former Supreme Court Justice refused to the call. He also claimed that they will not show the pieces of evidence they have gathered as well.
“No, we’ll not. Well, we’re gathering evidence. We cannot show our evidence. We will be telegraphed by these people if we show them evidence,” the ICI Chairman said.
Meanwhile, based on the report, Reyes vowed that they will really try their best in investigating the fraud issues in the country. According to him, they lack the facility as well as the rules of procedure but they will “shorten the procedure in spite of no rules” that allows them.
“We will now go on livestream next week once we get to be able to have the technical capability with us already,” Reyes added.