But clarified that they do not intervene in the investigation of the commission.
During the Palace Press Briefing on Tuesday, February 3, Undersecretary Claire Castro said that the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is ready to provide assistance to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), but deferred the flood control probe to the agency.
“Kung ano ang nais ng ICI, according to the President, kung ano ang nais nilang gawin at gusto pa nilang magpatuloy, sabihin lamang nila sa Pangulo at susuportahan sila,” she said.
That, while, according to the Palace official, the President does not intervene in the work of the ICI given its independent mandate, but any recommendations from the Commission will be submitted to his office.
“Nandiyan rin ang patuloy na pagpapaimbestiga sa mga maanomalyang flood control projects. Pero ang nais ng Pangulo ngayon, ang gusto niya tutukan ay ang pag-angat ng ekonomiya ng bansa,” with Castro adding that they will let the probe be handled by relevant agencies and the cases of those involved be tackled in courts like the Sandiganbayan.
According to Castro, PBBM trusts the ICI and relevant government agencies to continue the investigation into the anomalous flood control projects and file cases when warranted.
This, she said, is part of the chief executive’s commitment to holding those responsible for irregularities in these projects accountable.
“Unang-una, noon pa niya sinabi, lahat ng sangkot ay dapat mapanagot. Ang pag-iimbestiga ay iniwan niya [President Marcos] sa kamay ng ICI,” told Castro.
She continued, “Ang mga dokumento na dapat aralin at kung dapat sinong kasuhan, iniwan niya na rian sa Department of Public Works and Highways. Nandyan din at nangako ang Ombudsman na sila ay magpapatuloy sa pag-iimbestiga, pati ang Department of Justice.”
Prior to this, President Marcos himself personally told reporters in January that the ICI might be nearing the end of its investigation into the flood control scandal and added that the case might soon be moved over to the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Kung matapos na ‘yung trabaho nila, then we will see what they can do next. But they really are coming toward the end– lahat ng kailangang imbestigahan, naimbestigahan na nila. Maybe there are one or two other loose ends that they have to clear up,” adding that the ICI’s future lies on how much work they have left.
The ICI was established last September by virtue of Executive No. 94, where it was tasked to investigate anomalies in flood control projects in the past ten years.
At present, former Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr. continues to serve as chairperson of the ICI, while Commissioners Rogelio Singson and Rossana Fajardo—who were simultaneously appointed in September—have concluded their service last December after successfully completing their tasks.
Upon the recommendation of the ICI, the Office of the Ombudsman has also started filing complaints against several personalities, while the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has issued freeze orders for the bank accounts and other assets of individuals linked to the corruption scheme.