House slams PBBM’s seriousness in fighting corruption as Fajardo resigns in ICI

Another resignation from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) was announced by Commissioner Rossana Fajardo on Friday. Some lawmakers from the House of Representatives commented, citing the importance of passing the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption (ICAIC) bill and questioning the seriousness of the President's war on corruption.

The Minority bloc made a group statement stating that ICI is now a lost cause and cited various criticisms that were observed throughout the months that the investigation on the flood control scandal was made by the commission, highlighting that it was made to show that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is serious in investigating corruption.

“Its members have resigned, it has no real transparency, and its credibility is always in question. It was created to make it appear Marcos was serious about investigating corruption.” Makabayan Bloc said.

“Three months since its creation, it has unraveled and has exposed the empty corruption rhetoric of the Marcos Regime,” they added.

The coalition also said that they did not hear anything back from the ICI following their formal request to investigate an alleged relation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on the anomalies of the infrastructure projects, as well as the status of their probe request to the Davao Flood control projects, following the decline of Rep. Paolo Duterte to the commission’s invitation.

“We have not heard from the ICI regarding our request to investigate Marcos and his resigned officials for the issue of corruption. ICI appears selective and has no interest in going up the highest levels of government to uncover corruption,” they stated.

“We also do not know the status of our request for an investigation into the Davao flood control projects. Rep. Duterte did not accept the ICI’s invitation. It’s proof that the ICI cannot really do so much in uncovering corruption if resource persons refuse to cooperate,” they added.

Senior Minority Leader and Caloocan City representative Edgar Erice, who earlier said that Former ICI commissioner Rogelio “Babes” Singson feared that ICI would be a “washing machine” and “punching bag” due to lack of support.

According to Erice, the resignation of three commissioners, Singson, Fajardo, and Benjamin Magalong, shows that there is something wrong in the ICI, citing the absence of adequate funding, personnel, and enforcement authority.

“What happens now to what may be the greatest hesit in government infrastructure and the national budget?” Erice said.

The Congressman also pointed out that supposed key figures on the alleged infrastructure and budget insertions are either gone or silent. Former Undersecretary Catalina Cabral is now dead, Zaldy Co, who remained at large, while Secretary Bonoan is reportedly still out of the country.

The lawmaker also noted that statements from Undersecretary Claire Castro appeared “riddled with inconsistency and evasions”.

“Does the President truly mean what he is saying?” Erice asked in his online released statement.

“President Marcos owes the Filipino people a clear and honest explanation of what is happening to his presidency,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Kamanggagawa Partylist Rep. Elijah “Eli” San Fernando said that ICI has had no strength for a long time due to zero funding for its staff and lack of coercive powers. According to the lawmaker, he even heard that some staff were already leaving the ICI aside from its commissioners.

“From the very beginning, workers and ordinary Filipinos have known that the ICI was created only to pacify the public’s anger,” Rep. San Fernando said.

“Malacañang seems to be living in a different world, desperately trying to convince itself that Filipinos still have trust in the conduct of the investigation and in holding those involved in the greatest corruption scandal in recent history accountable,” he added.

Rep. San Fernando urged the president to certify the ICAIC bill as urgent and let the investigation roll out without favoring anyone

“May choice ang pangulo, i-certify niya as urgent ang ICAIC Bill. Hayaang gumulong ang imbestigasyon at panagutin lahat kahit pa kamag-anak, kaalyado, o kaibigan niya ang mga ito. Kung hindi niya gagawin, let’s call spade a spade: pati Pangulo, inutil (The President has a choice: he can certify the ICAIC Bill as urgent. Let the investigation move forward and hold everyone accountable, even if they are his relatives, allies, or friends. If he does not do this, let’s call a spade a spade: the President, too, is useless,” San Fernando emphasized.

Meanwhile, Mamayang Liberal Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima is disappointed in what ICI has become, noting that a commission tasked with fighting corruption but with limited power and resources, together with an administration reluctant to provide support through urgent legislation and budget, is bound to fail.

“This brings us back to our question from the beginning: Is the President and his administration really serious about its commitment to hold all those involved–especially the masterminds, including powerful politicians–accountable?” De Lima said.

“Dahil sa Hindi pag certify as urgent as ICAIC law, talagang nakakapagduda Ang sinesiridad ng administrasyong ito,” she added.

Akbayan  Partylist Rep. Chel Diokno also left the question on what happened to the past three months of operation of the commission, as no “big fish” involved in the flood control scandal were caught.

“The problem is clear: the ICI truly lacks the power and mandate. We reiterate our call to certify as urgent and enact the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption Bill (HB 4453) so that we can have a truly independent and powerful commission against corruption.” Diokno said in his statement.