Palace welcomes proposal to grant contempt powers to ICI

Malacañang welcomed Tuesday the proposed measure seeking the grant of contempt powers to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure which would look into anomalous flood control projects across the country.

At a press conference, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked for reaction on House Bill No. 4453 seeking to grant contempt powers and an expanded subpoena authority to the ICI. 

''Ang sabi po ng Pangulo, ito'y fact-finding commission so 'di po kinakailangan talaga po na magkaroon ng power na mag-punish doon sa mga taong hindi dadalo pero kung 'yun po ay bibigay sa Independent Commission ng mga mambabatas, maganda po 'yang suhestiyon at 'yan po ay welcome na welcome sa Pangulo,'' Castro said.

(The President said this is a fact-finding commission so it doesn't need the power to punish those individuals who will not attend but if they will give that power to the ICI, that's a good suggestion and the President welcomes this.)

Asked if this measure would be certified as urgent by Marcos, Castro said: ''Kung maganda po ang nilalaman ng bill, makakaasa po tayo sa Pangulo.''

(If the content of the bill is good, we can rely on the President [in certifying this as urgent].)

Under House Bill 4453, the ICI’s subpoena power covers all branches of government, including the constitutionally-created bodies, and private companies and individuals. Likewise, the bill grants it full and unrestricted access to all government records.

In addition, the ICI under House Bill 4453 cannot be subjected to a TRO or preliminary injunction by any court, except the Supreme Court.

Through Executive Order No. 94, Marcos created the ICI which shall hear, investigate, receive, gather, and evaluate evidence, intelligence reports, and information, against all government officials and employees, and any other individual, involved in anomalies, irregularities, and misuse of funds in the planning, financing, and implementation of government flood control and other infrastructure projects nationwide.

The ICI shall prioritize the investigation of flood control and other infrastructure projects within the last ten years from the effectivity of the EO. 

The body also has the authority to issue subpoenas for attendance of witnesses and production of documents necessary for its fact-finding and investigation activities, specifically, subpoena ad testificandum and duces tecum in accordance with relevant laws, rules and regulations.

Marcos named former Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr. as the chairperson of the ICI, and its members are former Public Works Secretary Rogelio "Babes" Singson and Rossana Fajardo, country managing partner at auditing firm SGV and Co.

Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong will serve as ICI special adviser. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News