PANGILINAN TO ICI: LIVESTREAM HEARINGS FOR TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY

SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan called on the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to reconsider its decision not to livestream its proceedings.

“I urge the ICI to reconsider this decision. Transparency is fundamental to public accountability. With all due respect, the decision of the ICI to prevent the public from monitoring its proceedings online is ill-advised,” the senator posted on his social media pages.

This came after the ICI cited the need to avoid “trial by publicity” and to prevent the hearings from being used for political leverage or agenda by any individual or group.

The lawyer-senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, also took to X to highlight how corruption scandals trace back to the failures of the justice system.

“The last nail on the coffin of public accountability is in the unacceptable delays in the resolution of corruption cases and the paltry conviction rates of 47 percent,” he added.

“Ultimately, punishing the guilty and ending massive corruption lies in the hands of the Justices and Judges of our country’s Judicial system,” he wrote.

Pangilinan emphasized that swift proceedings and verdicts, heavier sentences, and making corruption a non-bailable offense are crucial to ensure public accountability and good governance.

Finally, he called on ICI to open the hearings to the public, warning: “Do not test the people’s desire to know the truth.”

He added, “Baka magising ang mga miyembro ng ICI bukas at nag ra-rally na ang tao sa harap ng mga bahay ninyo.”