The body is responsible for the investigation into the flood control corruption scandal.
During a Palace press briefing on Friday, February 20, Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) continues to carry out its duties in investigating alleged anomalies in infrastructure projects without interruption.
She noted that the ICI remains fully functional, with no gaps in its ongoing investigations, while the President studies over a thousand of pages of documentation in the submitted report.
“Sila ay nag-submit ng kanilang report, at kung ano ang magiging desisyon ng Pangulo rito, kung dapat pa bang ituloy o hindi, dapat silang magpatuloy sa kanilang pagtatrabaho, hintayin na lamang natin ang magiging anunsiyo ng Pangulo. Pero sa ngayon, wala pong pagpipigil, patuloy pa rin po ang pagtatrabaho ng ICI,” said Castro.
She furthered, “Ito ay halos isang libo na pahina at kailangan aralin, busisiing mabuti, hindi kasi ito basta parang nobela lamang na babasahin at magkakaroon na agad ng reaksiyon. So, kailangan araling mabuti para maging makatwiran at tama ang magiging desisyon ng Pangulo.”
The Palace official also emphasized that there remains “no gap” in the work of the commission, which also submits reports to the Office of the Ombudsman, as well as the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“Wala naman kasing nagiging gap sa pagtatrabaho. Patuloy pa ring nagtatrabaho ang ICI. Nakapagbigay nga sila ng report at nagtatrabaho rin, ayon din sa Ombudsman, sila rin ay nagpapatuloy sa kanilang pag-iimbestiga,” she told.
The undersecretary added, “Tandaan natin, marami na kasing naisumite ang ICI sa Ombudsman at sa DOJ, so iyon nga dapat ang dapat nating hintayin kung ano ang magiging resulta, kung may maisasampa pang mga kaso.”
Meanwhile, there was no exact timeline set for the announcement of the review’s outcome, although the official indicated that developments or results may be expected by February, pending the completion of the ongoing assessment.
“Eh malamang po itong buwan ng Pebrero ay malalaman na natin, sa ating pagkakaalam,” said Castro.
But she clarified, “Pero hindi ko sinasabi na ito na mismo ang magiging hudyat kung ano ang magiging desisyon ng Pangulo, sa akin lamang pong pagkakaalam, most probably by February ay mayroon na po.”
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.