Another development in the agency and the ongoing investigations into the anomaly.
On Friday, December 26, it was announced that Commissioner Rossana Fajardo has departed from her role at the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
Malacañang said that she has completed her mandate after finishing the financial forensic review of funds tied to projects under investigation. The ICI is now moving to finalize its reports for submission to the Office of the Ombudsman and other concerned agencies.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) acting Secretary Dave Gomez said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recognized Fajardo’s role in safeguarding accountability in the use of public funds.
“The President thanks Ms. Fajardo for her service and for helping ensure that public funds are properly accounted for. This forms part of the broader effort to make the government more honest, more transparent, and more responsive to the needs of the people,” said Gomez.
He continued, “Her role was always meant to be temporary and focused only on this mandate. As the Commission continues its work in the coming months, the focus is now on final reports and the proper handover of documents to offices like the Office of the Ombudsman for the next steps.”
Gomez noted that “Commissioner Rossana Fajardo has completed the specific task she was asked to perform.”
The PCO chief said that Fajardo was brought in for a clear financial forensic purpose, which is to “closely review” the money linked to the projects under investigation and help trace where public funds went. “That work is now finished,” he emphasized.
Gomez added that Fajardo’s full findings will form part of the ICI’s recommendations to the Ombudsman and will also be turned over to the proper government offices, including the Commission on Audit.
THE PROBE CONTINUES
Meanwhile, the acting PCO secretary also stressed that the government’s investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects is far from over.
Despite the controversial contractor couple, Sarah Discaya and Curlee Discaya, having spent the Christmas period in detention, this development “marks only an early phase of a much broader accountability drive,” he told.
Sarah Discaya was arrested last December 18 over a ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental and is detained at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail. Meanwhile, her husband, Curlee Discaya, is in the custody of the Senate after being cited in contempt by the Blue Ribbon Committee for inconsistent testimony.
“The flood control investigation does not end on Dec. 25. It’s only been a little over four months,” said Gomez.
He also made an example of the Pork Barrel Scam, which involved Janet Napoles, with the probe having taken almost a year before people were sent to jail. “There will surely be more thrown behind bars in the New Year,” the PCO Secretary added.