The Philippine National Police (PNP) has deployed four of its specialized units to assist the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) in verifying alleged irregularities in government flood control and infrastructure projects.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said on Thursday that the Engineering Service, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Forensic Group, and Information Technology and Management Service (ITMS) will spearhead the police’s technical and investigative support to the ICI. ‘These offices have already begun meeting based on the requirements of the ICI,’ Tuaño said in a news briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City. ‘Our geodetic engineers will help validate the project coordinates cited in the ICI report to determine whether the identified locations actually exist.’
Tuaño said the police organization has already begun coordinating with the ICI, following a meeting on Tuesday at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
The ICI, created by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is reviewing reports of ‘ghost’ or non-existent flood control projects and questionable fund allocations.
Tuaño clarified that the PNP’s participation is limited to technical verification and forensic validation, not policy or procurement matters. The Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management will coordinate the activities of the four units to ensure seamless support.
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‘For example, the ICI noted more than 400 supposed ghost projects, each with assigned longitude and latitude data,’ he said. ‘Our teams will cross-check those coordinates through engineering and forensic validation.’
In a separate statement, PNP Acting Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. reaffirmed the organization’s full backing of the administration’s transparency and accountability drive.
‘The PNP recognizes the importance of this inter-agency collaboration as part of a broader effort to safeguard public funds and promote good governance,’ Nartatez said. ‘Our involvement will always be guided by professionalism, fairness, and due process.’
Tuaño also assured that the PNP’s regular operations will not be affected by its additional tasks under the ICI initiative. Budget requests related to its participation will depend on operational needs and are currently under evaluation. /cb