Up to ICI how to ensure transparency in flood control hearings, probe — Palace

Malacañang said it is up to Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the fact-finding body created by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., to decide how it will ensure transparency in its hearings and investigation into the flood control controversy.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro made the remark when asked about the call of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) for the ICI to allow the public to watch hearings of its investigation.

"Tama po. Ang Pangulo po, sa lahat ng mga pagkakataon gusto may transparency. Sa lahat ng pag-iimbestiga dapat may transparency, walang tinatago," Castro said.

(That's right. The President always wants transparency. In every investigation, there must be transparency.) 

"Pero kung paano po ito gagawin ng ICI, kung papaano po ito maisasapubliko, kung papaano po sila magiging transparent at hanggang saan, nasa ICI na po iyan. But still, ang Pangulo po ay sinusulong din po ang transparency sa lahat ng pag-iimbestiga," she added.

(However, on how will the ICI do this and ensure the transparency, it is already up to the ICI. But still, the President is pushing for transparency in every investigation.)

The INC also urged the independent body to conduct a continuous, transparent, and impartial probe as this is instrumental to attaining peace in the country.

The results of the probe may not be accepted by the public, the INC said, if it would be conducted in secrecy.

Hearings to remain private

On Monday, ICI executive director Brian Hosaka maintained that the fact-finding body's hearings would remain private.

Hosaka had said the hearings would not be livestreamed to avoid "trial by publicity" and any political influence.

On Wednesday, Hosaka said the ICI is standing by its decision not to conduct public hearings.

Hosaka said the commission is wary of statements made by resource persons invited to the hearings without verification saying it might just be an effort to confuse the public.

“We don’t even know if the statements there are true or are probably said to confuse the commission and even the public. Mami-mislead ang publiko. Matatanggap nila agad na sinabi ng tao na ito na hindi naman tayo sigurado sa kanilang character o background kung nagsasabi sila ng totoo,” he said.

(We don't even know if the statements there are true or are probably said to confuse the commission and even the public. The public might be mislead. They might accept right away that what has been said by somebody which we even don't know if that somebody is telling the truth.)

Also on Wednesday, retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio warned that people will lose faith in the ICI if it conducts closed door hearings.

"That's the number one thing that they have to correct," Carpio said.

Created by an executive order in September, the ICI is currently investigating flood control projects and infrastructure projects in the past 10 years for anomalies and irregularities in order to identify who should be held accountable for corruption.

According to Castro, the body is not giving updates to the President, citing its independence. 

"Natawagan natin po ang Office of the Executive Secretary. Wala pong ganoon dahil po independent commission po ito, at ang report po na iyan ay nasa kamay po ng ICI; at kung anuman ang magiging rekomendasyon nila, sa kanila po manggagaling at hindi po hihingiin ang basbas ng Pangulo," Castro said.

(We called the Office of the Executive Secretary. There's no update being given to the President since this is an independent commission and the report is in the hands of the ICI. And whatever recommendation they have, it will come from the ICI and it will not ask for the President's blessings.) — with Joseph Morong/VDV/RSJ, GMA Integrated News