Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Executive Director Atty. Brian Hosaka announced that, tentatively, the commission may have a hearing schedule next week, but will have to deliberate on the livestreaming rules for the proceedings.

“The ICI hearing has a tentative schedule next week but more importantly, what we are looking at is the approval of our live streaming rules,” Hosaka said in an interview with DZRH segment Dos por Dos Monday morning.

“What the public is demanding is that the ICI hearing should be more open. On the other hand, we have human rights that must be protected,” he added, pertaining to the rights of those who will be cross-examined and those names who will be mentioned during the trial.

Hosaka also said that the agency is not at full capacity, which means that their work could be done faster if there are more employees.

With a petition of invalidation of ICI passed to the Supreme Court, Hosaka assures that they will continue to work as long as they do not receive a decision from SC ruling that the formation is unlawful.

“As long as we do not receive a decision from the SC that the executive order is unlawful, then we will continue our work, we will continue to do our mandate,” he expressed while adding that they will state comments once they receive the official document of the petition.

The executive director also added that every Filipino has the right to question the formation of a new government agency and they are not stopping them from doing so.

Working with Ombudsman

Hosaka emphasized that although the Ombudsman is the office in charge of providing a channel for those who are obligated to respond to the accusations made against them, the ICI takes evidence and testimonies as the fact-finding committee.

“What I heard is that as much as possible, they want our recommendation. We would want our recommendation as complete as possible but we know that this matter would have to undergo preliminary investigation as far as the Ombudsman is concerned,” he explained.