WITH HIS LEVEL of patience running low, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. finds it extremely urgent for the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to commence a purge of crooks behind the systemic corruption in the government.
By naming the composition of the ICI, Marcos issued a marching order to look into all forms of corruption under the government infrastructure program — ghost projects, substandard works, repetitive listing and budgeting for such projects that were nowhere near completion, among other schemes.
Tapped to lead the ICI is retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio. Likewise appointed as members of the ICI included former Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, former Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson, and the country managing partner at SGV and Co., Rossana Fajardo.
Baguio City Benjamin Magalong who has been exposing the dubious scheme involving officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and members of the House of Representatives, was named ICI adviser and investigator.
PRESIDENT’S ASSURANCE
He likewise reiterated the administration’s commitment to maintain honesty and integrity in public service, even as the President vowed to take decisive measures to repress and hold accountable government officials, private contractors, and politicians whom resources persons accused of receiving the biggest chunk of the stolen public funds.
Part of the marching order is to seize unlawfully acquired properties of public officials, including allies whose names were dragged into the scandal.
The investigation will cover alleged corruption, irregularities, and misuse of funds in government flood control and related projects within the last 10 years, spanning the term of the late former President Benigno Aquino III and that of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
DISTRUST ON CONGRESS
The ICI was formed following a public disapproval in congressional investigations embarking on vested interests, political mudslinging and grandstanding among members of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
According to analysts, Congress doesn’t have the moral ascendancy to investigate corruption involving public works of contractors linked to legislators.
During his latest State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos laid out an initiative aimed at combating entrenched corruption in the bureaucracy. It was also then that the President blamed corruption for substandard flood control projects.
He subsequently launched a website which served as a public platform where people may directly file reports on corruption-tainted projects.
CRITICAL-MINDED TEAM
According to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, the President has appointed individuals of “proven competence, integrity, and deep familiarity with infrastructure, finance, and institutional reform.”
Carpio served the judiciary for over three decades and waged an advocacy seeking political change when he retired in 2019. He has been a vocal critic of the previous and present administration. He is the lead convenor of 1Sambayan.
Singson, an industrial engineer and businessman, Singson served as DPWH secretary during the term of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino from 2010 to 2016.
“His technical understanding of how projects are designed, procured, and implemented will be essential to this Commission’s work,” Castro said.
Fajardo of SGV & Co., the largest professional services firm in the country, has over three decades of experience in auditing, internal controls, and risk management, especially in identifying weaknesses in financial systems and operational processes.
As a certified public accountant, she has worked across both public and private sectors to help organizations detect fraud, strengthen governance, and build more accountable institutions, according to Castro.
“Their acceptance of this responsibility is voluntary. They are not appointed to defend the system, but to confront it. And most importantly, not one of them is connected to the agencies or contractors under investigation,” she added.
Meanwhile, Castro claimed that Magalong, who served as police officer, has the capability to dig deeper into the scandal.
“His experience in leading difficult investigations, uncovering internal wrongdoing, and enforcing compliance makes him a strong asset to this commission.”