The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will livestream its hearings beginning next week, according to ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes.
Reyes made the disclosure at the Senate committee on justice’s hearing on anomalous infrastructure projects in the country.
‘We don’t have the facility, and we don’t have the rules of procedures. In spite of no rules allowing us, we will now go on a livestream next week,’ said Reyes.
‘Once we get to be able to have the technical capability with us already, I repeat, we will start doing live streams next week,’ he told the senators.
In his opening remarks, Reyes admitted that the creation of ICI needs refinement and ‘more power.’
He particularly lamented how people were able to ‘get away with P500 billion,’ noting that this is the commission’s inspiration to work hard.
‘ICI is only 39 days old. For the last 21 days, we only had three lawyers and now we have some volunteers from the PAO and other agencies and we will try our best to full blast investigation of all these frauds,’ he said.
In a bid to refine the commission, they would begin livestreaming their proceedings.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who was presiding over the hearing as panel head, said ICI’s pronouncement is welcome news.
‘People would like to know the facts of these cases and would like to be updated as to the developments and progress of the investigation. A livestreaming of the proceedings will definitely address this concern of the public,’ said the senator.
The Palace likewise welcomed the news, saying that the decision to do so lies in the hands of the ICI.
‘That is in the hands of the ICI. Whatever they need to show that their proceedings are impartial, we’re leaving it to their decision,’ Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro told reporters in a Viber message.
On September 11, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 94 creating the ICI, following reports and investigations into alleged anomalies in the country’s flood control projects.
‘The Administration is firmly committed to maintain honesty and integrity in public service, and will take decisive measures to repress and hold accountable government officials and employees, and any other individual, who engage in graft, corrupt practices, or other acts that undermine the national interest and betray the people’s trust,’ the order reads.
As a recommendatory body, the ICI will, acting on complaint or motu proprio, ‘hear, investigate, receive, gather, and evaluate evidence, intelligence reports, and information, against all government officials and employees, and any other individual, involved in anomalies, irregularities, and misuse of funds in the planning, financing, and implementation of government flood control and other infrastructure projects nationwide,’ it adds. /apl /gsg