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THE RESIGNATION OF three stalwarts behind the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) seemed more like an indication that the probe into the so-called flood control scandal is just for a show.
It is not meant to dismantle the systemic culture of corruption but a selective purge primarily designed to make the administration look good in the eyes of the Filipinos.
When President Ferdinand Marc Jr. created the ICI, many were under the impression that big time crooks behind the flood control scandal would be hauled in jail, made accountable for the anomalous infrastructure projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Or so we thought.
The resignation of three of the four members of the ICI speaks well of the administration’s intent. Damage control, that’s what it is.
People with integrity behind the ICI walked away not because they were done, but because of the drumbeating made by no less than the President’s trusted lieutenants who have openly cleared the main man behind the fiasco.
The Remulla brothers — Boying and Jonvic, have spoken. According to the “dynamic duo,” there’s no proof that presidential cousin and former House Speaker House Speaker Martin Romualdez is involved in the P1.7-trillion fund mess.
Looking at the timeline, Marcos promised accountability after his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), which made the people extremely angry. Then Marcos said something has to be done.
Hence, the ICI was formed by virtue of an executive order. Named members of the ICI were former Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr. as Chairperson, former DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson and Rossana Fajardo as commissioners and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as Special Adviser and Investigator.
But months after ICI was created, people tasked to uncover the truth started walking away — Magalong, who has long been exposing dubious schemes at the DPWH, tendered his resignation even before the President was able to fire him. The reason — ties with the Duterte camp.
On December 15, Singson also resigned, citing health issues and security concerns. Then Rossana Fajardo also left.
The only man left standing is the ICC Chairman Andres Reyes, but not for long as Ombudsman Crispin Remulla previously hinted at the imminent disbanding of the ICI.
From a taxpayers’ point of view, the dissolution of the ICI seemed meant to prevent the scandal from serving beyond its purpose — a selective purge against small fries.
To recall, Marcos said big shots involved in the flood control mess would be jailed before Christmas. “They will not have a Merry Christmas,” he said in November.
He however did not specifically say what year would cover his “Christmas ultimatum.”
In fairness, there were some who were made to spend the holidays behind bars — sacrificial lambs named Sarah and Curlee Discaya and nine DPWH engineers.
The likes of Senators Joel Villanueva, Jinggoy Estrada, Francis Escudero and former Senator Bong Revilla who wielded power to insert billions into the budget, the ones who allegedly collected 25–30 percent kickbacks have remained free.
So as former Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Zaldy Co who has gone hiding somewhere in Europe.
Romualdez, the cousin of the sitting president, doesn’t seem headed to jail. He had already been cleared by the Remulla brothers.
ICI is a failure not because its members didn’t do what they’re supposed to. It’s because the commission doesn’t wield enough power to prosecute and send crooks (including the cousin of the President who created the ICI) to jail.
ICI, which operates on a restrained budget, is limited to recommending cases to the Ombudsman Remulla, who has the power to decide whether or not to file charges at the Sandiganbayan.