ICI on US diplomat’s visit: They’re partners, have commercial interests

The United States maintains an active interest in developments in the Philippines due to existing business partnerships, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) said Monday, after some groups questioned the visit of US Embassy Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Kelleher to the ICI office.

“Gusto nila malaman anong ginagawa. Para bang getting to know ano ba ang ginagawa ng ICI, bakit naitayo, anong gagawin ninyo, ano ang mga priorities ninyo,” executive director Brian Hosaka said in Ivan Mayrina’s Monday report on “24 Oras.”

(They want to understand what we’re doing, almost like getting to know the ICI. Why it was established, its work, and priorities.)

BAYAN president Renato Reyes criticized Kelleher’s visit.

“This is supposed to be an independent investigation, so wala kaming nakikitang dahilan para sa isang foreign government na sisilipin, aalamin, at posible iniimpluwensyahan ang kondukta ng isang internal na usapin sa Pilipinas,” Reyes said.

(This is supposed to be an independent investigation, so we don’t see any reason for a foreign government to check, know, and possibly influence the conduct of an internal matter in the Philippines.)

Meanwhile, fisherfolk group PAMALAKAYA said, “It is simply unacceptable and insulting that while the ICI has been keeping its proceedings from public monitoring and scrutiny, a foreign diplomat was welcomed with open arms.”

“US interference gusto, transparency and public hearings ayaw?” Kabataan Rep. Renee Co tweeted in X.

(They want US interference, but not public hearings?)

According to the ICI, the US cannot avoid being interested in the issues of corruption in the Philippines.

“They are partners, they have commercial interest, so naturally they would want to know what the ICI will be doing as far as these projects are concerned,” Hosaka said.  

Meanwhile, the Malacañang said there are no talks of auditing the foreign-assisted projects, and that Kelleher just wanted to know the ICI’s mandate and system.

Reyes said the investigation should be made public to dispel any doubts about it.

“Tama yung nagsasabi na gusto niyo ng credibility, i-livestream niyo, ibukas niyo ang lahat kasi so long as hindi transparent, hindi malikha ‘yung kailangan kredibilidad,” Reyes said.

(If you want credibility, livestream it and open it to all because, as long as they’re not transparent, we cannot create credibility.)

The ICI did not want to livestream its investigations to avoid ‘trial by publicity’ and any political influence.

Malacañang said that despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr supporting transparency, he will not interfere with the ICI’s work. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News