ICI exec Hosaka: We don't want to be used for any political agenda

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure defended its move not to conduct public hearings into the allegedly anomalous flood control projects, but assured the public that it wants the truth to come out. 

In an interview with reporters, Executive Director Atty. Brian Hosaka said the commission does not want to be used for any political agenda or motive by anyone. 

“We assure the public that we will always be independent, we will always be deliberate. Hindi po kami papadaloy sa politika (We will not go with the political flow). Deliberate, we will not allow anyone, any group, to use us for any political agenda or leverage. Because we want to seek the truth, we want to know who was really responsible for this mess. We owe that to the Filipinos,” Hosaka said. 

Over the weekend, Hosaka said the ICI hearings will not be livestreamed to avoid ‘trial by publicity’ and any political influence.

“Currently, the ICI hearings are not livestreamed. This is the present policy of the commission. The initial hearings, so far, are for purposes of case build-up for criminal, civil, and administrative action,” he said in a statement.

But Hosaka said further discussions will be held to address the call for transparency.

Closed-door investigation

The Commission began its closed-door investigation on September 19 and has since interviewed former Bulacan Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) District 1 Engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza. It has also called on former DPWH Usec. Ma. Catalina Cabral. 

It has also summoned Senate President Tito Sotto III, Senate blue ribbon committee chairperson and Senate Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, former Senate President Francis Escudero and former senator and former Senate finance committee chairperson Grace Poe to shed light on the budget process. 

Sotto had said that the commission was interested in how insertions, which Lacson had called “the original sin,” were possible in the budget. 

“Kumakalap kami lahat ng mga information na pwede. In fact, it's gonna be collaborative. Pinutugma-tugma ho namin yung mga statement ng mga iba-ibang tao at yung mga aming mga ibang resource person. And of course, we want to know how the system works. Paano pa nangyari ito?,” Hosaka explained. 

(We are gathering all pertinent information. In fact, it’s gonna be collaborative. We are matching different statements from our resource persons. And of course, we want to know how the system works ... how all of these happened.)

Hosaka said the commission does not duplicate the investigative and prosecutorial function of the Department of Justice.

“In fact, I think complementary. Nakita naman po ninyo kanina ni si SOJ na pumunta dito kanina at nag-submit ng mga affidavit. (You've witnessed that the SOJ [Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla] went here to submit affidavits) And for us, that's very important. Close coordination with the government agencies, whether legislative or investigative, is very valuable for us because the more information that we get,” he said. 

Remulla who had met with the commission in the morning said the ICI is private sector initiative. 

“The fact-finding is more tailored towards what the private sector wants,” he said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News