ICI adviser Azurin: Public should not be made to feel impatient

Newly appointed Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Special Adviser and Investigator, former National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin, has acknowledged the scale and urgency of his task ahead, saying the public should be not made to feel impatient with the ongoing investigation into anomalous infrastructure projects.

Azurin arrived at the ICI Wednesday morning and for the first time since the announcement of his appointment, met with ICI chairman retired Justice Andres Reyes, Jr., former Public Works and Highways chief Rogelio Singson and SGV Country Managing Partner Rossana Fajardo.

“Hindi dapat magtagal ito e, dapat mabilis yung transition so that the people will not feel impatient,” Azurin said.

(This should not take long ... the transition should be fast so that the people will not feel impatient.)

Azurin replaced Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong whom he met Tuesday along with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon who underscored the importance of continuity.

“Mission ko na makita ‘yung magnitude ng iimbestigahan, so that we can assess how to go about the investigation. Kasi, 10 years na ano ‘to eh, (investigation),” Azurin said.

(My mission is to see the magnitude of the investigation ... so that we can assess how to go about the investigation since this will include the past 10 years.)

The ICI is mandated to investigate wrongdoings in government infrastructure projects in the last ten years.

Azurin asked for the cooperation from the public as he underscored the job is not merely one agency’s.

“We need full cooperation actually ng lahat ng Pilipino. If we want to go to the bottom of this, hindi pwedeng ICI lang, hindi pwedeng DPWH lang. This is supposed to be a Filipino effort,” he said.

Azurin said he arrived in the country Monday and still awaiting a schedule from the President for his oathtaking.

“I’m waiting for the availability of the President to finally ask for his marching orders and guidance before I finally accept the appointment. May appointment ako wala pang take-off,” he said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News