The submission of recommendations by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) regarding cases against three former or incumbent senators will be delayed, following the emergence of new information.
ICI Chairman and former Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr. said on Wednesday that the commission is reassessing the complaints after receiving a second affidavit from former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
“We are reevaluating everything because of the affidavit of Usec. Bernardo, so we’re studying that,” Reyes stated.
“So we’ll have a delay of maybe 10 days from last Friday. Hopefully, we’ll finish it,” he added.
On November 13, Reyes earlier announced that at least three former or sitting senators would be recommended for charges before the Office of the Ombudsman this week, in connection with alleged anomalies involving government flood control projects.
Several lawmakers in the Senate have been accused of receiving kickbacks from these irregularities, including Senate Deputy Minority Leader Joel Villanueva, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Senator Chiz Escudero, former Senator Bong Revilla, and former Senator—now Makati City Mayor—Nancy Binay.
Meanwhile, Reyes believes that the filing of charges against former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co and several DPWH officials over the ₱289-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro marks a “turning point.” This was part of the commission’s first set of recommendations in September.