Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon has called for the revival of the House Infrastructure Committee (Infracom), signaling a potential response from the House of Representatives after the government’s Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) wrapped up its investigation into the P545-billion fund insertion in the national budget dating back to 2022.
Speaking to campus journalists at the 27th Word Cup national campus journalism workshop held at the storied Plaridel Hall of the National Press Club, Ridon said the ICI could have done more if it had subpoena and contempt powers.
Still, the Bicol Saro Partylist lawmaker acknowledged that the commission has delivered on its mandate despite a limited budget and powers.
“There are people already in jail,” Ridon said, but emphasizing that it is only the big fish — congressmen and senators implicated by former DPWH officials — that the public wants to see behind bars.
When asked about the status of the Anti-Dynasty Bill, Ridon said he expects the House to pass the measure in one to two months.
“Speaker Dy has already given his commitment, but I don’t know about the Senate, since it involves not only the congressman, but also their siblings, children and spouses,” he said.
Ridon, a former Kabataan Partylist representative and a member of the “QuadComm,” is among the few lawmakers pushing to expand the ICI’s powers. At present, he lamented, “only the small fry” have been investigated and jailed, while the bigger political players remain untouched.
He cited examples where the ICI’s lack of authority hindered its probe.
“Rep. Paolo Duterte allegedly made an insertion in the P51-billion infrastructure budget during his father’s presidency, but he declined the ICI invitation,” he said.