ICI readies rules for live hearings

Independent Commission for Infrastructure, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Thursday said it would have to come up with rules and parameters before it airs its fact-finding hearings on anomalous government projects via public livestream.

ICI chair Andres Reyes Jr. said that the body would have to “study” how to livestream its sessions, taking into account the “sensitive information and the constitutional rights of invited resource persons.”

Despite heeding the public clamor for more transparency, the ICI head reiterated that the commission does not want the hearings to lead to “trial by publicity” or a venue for “political grandstanding, sensationalism, and disinformation.”

“These concerns remain valid, and protecting the integrity of the investigation is still paramount,” Andres said in a statement read by Executive Director Brian Hosaka to reporters.

While the ICI said it is looking to make its hearings public “as soon as possible,” Hosaka said that is unlikely to begin next week. He also could not provide a timeline at present.

Transcripts available

According to Hosaka, the ICI would also consider giving the public access to video recordings of past hearings, saying, “That would depend on the guidelines and procedures that would be approved by the commission. But definitely, everything was recorded.”

This would cover previous closed-door hearings where key figures in the alleged flood control project anomaly, such as contractor couple Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya, as well as former engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), gave testimonies and evidence to the ICI.

The ICI started its closed-door sessions with resource persons it deemed important in its probe into the corruption scandal on Sept. 23, with past and present lawmakers submitting evidence and explaining to the commission the budget oversight process in the legislature.

Other government officials tagged in the flood control anomaly, such as former Speaker Martin Romualdez and former Senate President Francis Escudero, have also appeared before the ICI.

Andres, a retired associate justice of the Supreme Court, issued the statement a day after he attended an organizational meeting by the Senate committee on justice and human rights, where he first revealed the ICI’s plan to livestream the hearings.

For Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, he wants to maintain closed public hearings because people tend to act differently when on camera. He did not specify whether livestreamed hearings would be any more credible or any less deceptive.

But Gatchalian said it would be better for the ICI to keep its hearings private and just release updated transcripts “so the public can still follow what’s happening.”

Created through Executive Order No. 94 issued last September, the independent body was tasked to investigate all infrastructure projects of the government within the last 10 years, including the recent corruption allegations surrounding the flood control works.

PNP ready to help

But once authorities have determined probable cause to pursue charges, the Philippine National Police said it has four specialized units to assist the ICI in verifying alleged irregularities.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said that the Engineering Service, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Forensic Group, and Information Technology and Management Service have already met about the ICI’s investigative needs.

The Engineering Service will lead engineering verification of reported project sites, while the CIDG will handle investigations and cross-referencing of field inspection data.

The Forensic Group is tasked with forensic validation and will assist the ICI in technical documentation, measurement, and examination of documents related to flood control and public works projects nationwide.

Tuaño clarified that the PNP’s participation is limited to technical verification and forensic validation, not policy or procurement matters.