ICI: Livestreaming of proceedings by next month

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is targeting to come up with rules on how it would livestream its proceedings by next month so it could commence it, ICI Executive Director Atty. Brian Hosaka said Monday.

Hosaka said the rules should be ready before the next scheduled hearing on November 11.

Expected to come back to the commission on that date is former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo. No schedule is set for former House Speaker Martin Romualdez who requested for a postponement due to a medical procedure.

“The priority of ICI i is to finish that, to have that rules, approved. We want that set first and then we will confirm our hearings thereafter,” Hosaka said.

He added that the ICI is studying laws and even jurisprudence or Supreme Court decisions on livestreaming to balance the public’s right to know and individual rights.

“We hear the clamor for more transparency as far as the proceedings are concerned but nevertheless we have to tread this matter carefully,” Hosaka. .

Last week, ICI chairperson Justice Andres Reyes Jr. told the Senate Committee on Justice the commission would start livestreaming by this week but took back and said the ICI needed to have rules and procedures before it could do so.

Since starting its investigation on September 19, the commission has so far invited nearly twenty individuals, including lawmakers and DPWH engineers embroiled in the controversy.

Hosaka said the commission is preparing to file a second referral to the Ombudsman to recommend charges against individuals liable for the flood control projects anomaly. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News