House suspends flood control probe to give way to ICI

By Zaldy De Layola, Philippine News Agency

“The House Infrastructure Committee has full faith in the mandate, integrity and competence of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure. We trust that through its work, the ICI will be able to ensure transparency, that it will be able to ensure accountability and most important of all, that it will be able to ensure justice,” he said. (File Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – The House of Representatives Infrastructure Committee (Infracomm) will suspend its probe on anomalous government deals to give way to the full and impartial proceedings of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

Infracomm co- chair and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said Wednesday they will turn over all transcripts, documents, and other information and evidence to the ICI.

“It is our commitment to fully cooperate with the ICI on any and every aspect of our previous proceedings,” Ridon said in a news release.

He said Speaker Faustino Dy III and ICI officials were to meet on Wednesday afternoon.

“The House Infrastructure Committee has full faith in the mandate, integrity and competence of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure. We trust that through its work, the ICI will be able to ensure transparency, that it will be able to ensure accountability and most important of all, that it will be able to ensure justice,” he said.

Ridon said Infracomm hearings resulted in the resignation of members of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board over allegations of unexplained wealth and licenses for sale; and the disclosure of PHP1 billion in cash assets of MG Samidan Construction, one of the 15 largest flood control contractors named by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

It also helped in the disclosure of the financial statements of all firms linked to couple Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya from 2014 to 2023, which showed the sharp rise of their consolidated revenues; and the initial testimonies and evidence linking high-level officials in the executive and legislative to the ghost and substandard flood control projects in Bulacan province.

The Infracomm also implemented transparency measures during the course of the proceedings, including the conflict-of-interest disclosure mandates for participating House members, and the no-interpellation and immediate recusal protocol for House members named in the course of the proceedings, Ridon said.

He said the committee intends to propose legislation on ensuring private sector participation in project inspections; ensuring legitimate civil society participation in project procurement; ensuring proponent identification and public disclosure in each and every program, activity or project proposed at any and every stage of the budget process; and ensuring a stronger ICI, particularly the granting of subpoena and contempt powers.