ICI mulls summoning BOC, LTO chiefs over Discaya luxury cars

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is considering including the concerned chiefs of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) in the probe into the luxury vehicles of contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya.

“Titignan po ito ng ICI. If smuggled ang mga auto, obviously meron pong paglabag ng batas at dapat rin po may managot,” ICI executive director Brian Hosaka said when asked if the commission will investigate the top officials of the two agencies.

(ICI will look into it. If the vehicles were smuggled, obviously there is a violation of the law and someone should be held accountable.)

House of Representatives Infrastructure Committee chairperson Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon on Monday said the ICI should summon LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II and BOC chief Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno for the probe.

As of October 1, the BOC said a total of 30 vehicles owned by the Discayas are under its custody for possible violations of customs law.

The vehicles of Curlee and Sarah Discaya were seized after they were linked to anomalous government flood control projects.

Meanwhile, Hosaka said there is no truth to reports circulating that an ICI member is already planning to resign after losing hope and having concern on the limited powers of the commission.

“Hindi totoo na merong miyembro ng ICI na gustong mag-resign. Buo po ang ICI at patuloy silang nag-iimbestiga ayon sa kanilang mandato. Meron nga po silang hearing mamayang 9 a.m.,” he said.

(It is not true that there is a member of the ICI who wants to resign. The ICI is intact and they continue to investigate according to their mandate. In fact, they have a hearing later at 9 a.m.)

Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice on Monday said he talked to a member of the ICI who appears to be losing hope and is contemplating on resigning due to the commission's limited powers. 

Meanwhile, the ICI vowed that there will be no whitewashing in the probe into flood control projects after the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) expressed concern.

“The ICI is after the truth, so definitely the commission will not allow any whitewashing. That’s why it is very crucial that the commission carefully untangles this web of corruption. This is not a simple modus,” he said.

“Evidence and testimonies received by the ICI must be verified as these might be false, and possibly given to mislead the investigation and even the public for whatever agenda by some people. Hahanapin po ng ICI ang katotohanan (The ICI will search for the truth),” he added.

The CBCP on Monday warned against "whitewash" in the investigation into corruption in flood control projects.

“No to a whitewash. Yes to full accountability,” the CBCP said.

“Only through truth can our nation begin to rebuild trust and ensure that flood control no longer becomes another flood of corruption,” it added. —KG, GMA Integrated News