MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has created an independent fact-finding body through Executive Order 94 on Thursday, September 11 to investigate irregularities in government flood control and other infrastructure projects.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will consist of a chairperson and two members with reputable competence and integrity, to be backed up by an executive director with the rank of undersecretary and a full secretariat to handle technical and administrative work.
The commission may also enlist experts and professionals as advisers or consultants to aid in its probe. Malacañang said the President will announce members of the commission “very shortly” following the publication of the EO.
“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,” Marcos said in the order.
The ICI’s mandate is to hear, investigate, and gather evidence on anomalies, misuse of funds, and possible corruption in the planning, financing, and implementation of government projects, with priority on flood control works undertaken in the past 10 years.
The commission is empowered to issue subpoenas, compel the production of documents, recommend criminal, civil, and administrative cases before the Department of Justice, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Civil Service Commission, and coordinate with other government agencies. It may also recommend asset freezes, hold departure orders, and preventive suspensions to preserve the integrity of investigations.
Flood control projects, which have consistently received billions in annual allocations, have been flagged as prone to corruption due to repeated delays, substandard construction, and alleged misuse of funds, despite their critical role in mitigating the impact of natural disasters.
The ICI will submit monthly reports to the Office of the President and publish its accomplishments. It will operate until it has fulfilled its mandate or is dissolved by the President. (with Darryl John Esguerra)
