CHANGES IN ICI WILL NOT AFFECT OVERALL INVESTIGATION – PALACE

MALACAÑANG has assured that changes in the composition of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will not affect the ongoing investigation ordered by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. into alleged anomalous flood control projects.

During a Palace press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that with former Supreme Court Justice Andres B. Reyes Jr. at the helm of the ICI, the Commission remains fully capable of carrying out its mandate and reporting its findings to the President.

“Hindi talaga ito makakaapekto sa pag-iimbestiga, sa patuloy na pag-iimbestiga ng anomalya sa flood control projects. Kahit sabihin natin na nag-iisa lamang si Justice Reyes, sinabi nating kumpleto na malamang ang mga ebidensiya, at magri-report naman sila sa Pangulo,” Castro said.

Castro said the ICI was created as a fact-finding committee to start the investigation into the wide-ranging issue of anomalous flood control projects.

“Titingnan ng Pangulo kung kinakailangan pang mag-appoint ng panibagong miyembro ng ICI… Titingnan muna kung ano ang magiging report ng ICI, at doon titingnan kung ano iyong susunod na hakbang,” Castro explained.

The Palace Press Officer pointed out that aside from the ICI, other government agencies are involved in the investigation, led by the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ), with support from other law enforcement agencies.

“Sila ay masigasig ding nag-iimbestiga patungkol sa mga korapsyon so hindi masasabi na nawawalan ng pag-asa ang taumbayan para siyasatin ang mga ganitong klaseng anomalya,” Castro assured.