SC junks petition questioning constitutionality of ICI

The Supreme Court on Wednesday announced that it has dismissed a petition questioning the constitutionality of Executive Order No. 94, which created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

According to the SC, the petition failed to meet the basic requirement for judicial review.

Aside from this, the High Court ruled that the petition violated the hierarchy of courts.

“While direct recourse to the SC is allowed in exceptional cases, the petition failed to cite any compelling reason to bypass the lower courts,” the SC said in its statement.

The court further said that the petitioners did not show that an actual case or controversy exists. It said that the petition did not show that their rights were violated or that EO 94 adversely affected them.

The case stemmed from the petition filed by Jacinto Paras and others.

They argued that EO 94 violates the equal protection clause, usurps the legislative power of Congress, reduces or takes away the powers and functions of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit,  and violates the Constitution.

The ICI was created as an independent body to investigate alleged anomalous flood control projects.

At Malacañang, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said it is the obligation of the administration to cleanse the government of abuses.

She said this is why President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. initiated this through EO 94.

“Sa naging desisyon ng SC patungkol sa pagbuo ng ICI ay naipakita ng Pangulo  sa taumbayan ang maganda niyang hangarin para magkaroon ng malalimang pag iimbestiga sa mga maanomalyang flood control projects,” she said.

(In the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the creation of the ICI, the President showed the people his good intention to have an in-depth investigation into anomalous flood control projects.) — AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News