ICI seeks more powers amid flood control probe

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Wednesday appealed that it be granted more powers amid its investigation into substandard and ghost or non-existent flood control projects. 

During the public hearing on Senate Bill 1215, which seeks to create the Independent People's Commission (IPC), ICI Chairman Andres Reyes Jr. said the fact-finding body currently lacks powers when it comes to bank secrecy and tax records. 

"You could imagine that the flow of money was by cash. So it is difficult to really trace how the money went about. So we need these financial banking rules to be able to perhaps determine where the money went, who got the money, and the amount," Reyes said. 

He also said the ICI would like to have the capacity to look into text conversations between the government officials being linked and the contractors, believing that the exchange of money was discussed through text messages.

ICI Commissioner Rogelio Singson, meanwhile, also said members of the commission should be given immunity from civil liability or lawsuits. 

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon said the ICI, which was created by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., may be abolished once the IPC is institutionalized through law. 

He noted that the IPC may just adopt the findings and the information gathered by the ICI from its investigation of anomalous flood control projects.

Former Supreme Court chief justice Reynato Puno, on the other hand, also backed the creation of the IPC. He suggested that the body have an independent status and be given the power not just to investigate, but to file the appropriate charges and prosecute the perpetrators.

"The commission can develop its own prosecutors or deputize some prosecutors from the DOJ, from the Ombudsman, from the Office of the Solicitor General, from the PAO, to assist in the prosecution of the cases," Puno said. 

He also stressed that the creation of the IPC will not remove the powers of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice because "they will be complementary." 

"The purpose of, let us say, the Ombudsman law and the purpose of this Senate Bill run parallel to each other, they do not contradict each other. The creation of this independent commission will only strengthen the country's fight against corruption," he added. 

Last month, the ICI was created through Marcos' Executive Order 94. 

Senate Bill 1215, meanwhile, stresses the need to create the IPC, an independent body tasked to investigate anomalies in all government infrastructure projects.

Under the proposed measure, the powers and functions of the IPC include full and unrestricted access to all government records, such as contracts, bidding documents, financial reports, audit reports, and official correspondences related to the projects under investigation.

It is also capable of filing appropriate charges against government officials and employees who shall obstruct any inquiry and investigation of the body. — VDV, GMA Integrated News