(H)inde-pendent

(H)inde-pendent | Daily Tribune

When the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), through this writer and a fellow lawyer, former matinee heartthrob and singer Jimmy Bondoc, called for an independent “Truth Commission” to be led by Baguio Mayor Benjie Magalong to probe “Floodgate,” we were pleasantly surprised when President Marcos took our unsolicited advice.

Thus, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) was constituted on 11 September by virtue of Executive Order 94. While Magalong was not made its chair, it was more than good enough for us -– and, it seemed, many Filipinos -– that he was appointed its “special adviser and lead investigator.” Methinks the ICI with Magalong there, in large part, blunted the massive anti-government demonstrations of last 21 September.

Alas, it was “a promise to the ear to be broken to the hope.” Cracks in the façade of the ICI’s supposed independence began to appear quickly. Palace mouthpiece Claire Castro, in an attempt to undermine Magalong, was caught in a blatant lie when she announced that Hizzoner’s appointment was “under review” and that Magalong was not appointed as an investigator.

Whatever made her think that — in this age of the internet — her previous pronouncement, scarcely more than a week back, that Magalong was “lead investigator” would not be dug up, is beyond me. But then again, she is quite the clown. At any rate, a righteously indignant Benjie suddenly resigned. Spin it as much as they liked, but the Palace could not deny that with Magalong went a huge chunk of the ICI’s credibility.

To replace Magalong, a former police chief was appointed. With a checkered record and a middling list of accomplishments, it was obvious that he did not have a tenth of Magalong’s heft and gravitas. Then in came Atty. Brian Hosaka as spokesperson, a man totally identified with the Executive Secretary and already holding a government post upon the latter’s recommendation. The ICI’s reputation was crumbling.

Then the public noticed something else very odd. One of the President’s alter egos, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, became quite visible on the ICI’s inspection tour. So ubiquitous was he that it appeared the ICI, notwithstanding having a lead investigator, had become dependent on him for reports on claims of substandard or ghost flood control projects.

Being a Cabinet member and an extension of the presidency, and from the exact same department under investigation, this did not bode well for the ICI’s independence. If that were not enough, then Justice Secretary Boying Remulla made a big to-do about visiting the ICI offices and conducting a closed-door session with its officials. Another presidential alter ego poking his nose into what should have been an autonomous body.

Then came a decision from the ICI that united Christian churches the way no ecumenical conventions or religious wars ever could: the ICI decided to hold a Court of the Star Chamber and conduct its proceedings behind closed doors. No media, no broadcast, no outsiders, nada.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and the Iglesia ni Cristo, chasmically divided by doctrines such as the Trinity and the divinity of Christ, were suddenly one in decrying the secrecy, both saying that this seriously compromises the right of the people to transparency and public information.

Instead of the white horse it was envisioned to be, the ICI has become — for want of independence and credibility -– a dependent scapegoat.