WEEKS BEFORE THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) finally disbands as a fact-finding panel, eight members of the House of Representatives have been recommended for filing of criminal charges in connection with the anomalous flood control projects.
No less than Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla made the announcement on the second day of the ICI’s turnover of documents on its flood mess probe to the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City.
“Sa Congress (House of Representatives) eight lang. 13 [House members] attended the hearings, but they only suggested eight to be prosecuted,” Remulla told reporters during a press conference.
‘The Ombudsman assured the public that government prosecutors are well-equipped to go after the perpetrators of the flood control mess, and that capacity is bolstered by the documents submitted to them by the ICI.’
BOYING WANTS MORE
Remulla, however, clarified that the Office of the Ombudsman would continue its investigation even after the ICI winds down its operation by the end of March.
He also hinted at the possibility of expanding the list of House members who’d be criminally charged over their supposed involvement in the trillion-peso infrastructure anomalies.
“We are looking beyond that figure [because] definitely we’re way ahead of them (ICI) in some of [investigation] fields, like [in] the investigation of congressmen,” Remulla said.
“But their findings will be used by our teams to bolster the evidence they already have,” he added.
TARGETING SENATORS
According to the Ombudsman, there are also legislators from the upper chamber who should be made accountable for what has become the country’s biggest scandal involving public funds.
In an apparent manifestation of the severity of the situation, Remulla said that the Ombudsman is sustaining efforts to gather evidence against senators who are allegedly involved in the flood control mess, among other personalities involved.
“On senators, the ones we’re investigating are the same ones that the ICI also probed. I haven’t seen everything in the ICI files, but we will see that as the days go by,” he further noted.
EXTREMELY CONFIDENT
The Ombudsman assured the public that government prosecutors are well-equipped to go after the perpetrators of the flood control mess, and that capacity is bolstered by the documents submitted to them by the ICI.
“We have the wisdom to deal with each and every case as they arrive at our doorstep, and they (ICI) people were able to source a lot of contract documents. Remember, these contract documents form the backbone of each and every case it (an anomalous project) is a violation of contract,” Remulla emphasized.
“And it’s not only a contract with the DPWH, but a contract with the Filipino people,” Remulla added, referring to the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Ahead of Remulla’s press conference, ICI chairperson Andres Reyes, Jr. said the body’s tenure will end on March 31 since it has already fulfilled its mandate.
 finally disbands as a fact-finding panel, eight members of the House of){kind=link}