The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Wednesday, October 22, appealed for broader investigative authority in its ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
During the Senate hearing on Senate Bill No. 1215, which proposes the creation of an Independent People’s Commission (IPC), ICI Chairman Andres Reyes Jr. said the current fact-finding body lacks sufficient power to access bank secrecy and tax records—key elements in tracing the flow of illicit funds.
“You could imagine that the flow of money was by cash. So it is difficult to really trace how the money went about. So we need these financial banking rules to be able to perhaps determine where the money went, who got the money, and the amount,” Reyes explained.
He added that the ICI should also be allowed to examine text message exchanges between government officials and contractors, as they believe such communications often involve discussions about financial transactions.
Meanwhile, ICI Commissioner and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson proposed that commission members be granted immunity from civil liability or lawsuits to allow them to perform their duties without fear of legal retaliation.