The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) said Thursday it will recommend filing cases against at least three sitting or former senators in connection with anomalies in flood control projects.
ICI chair and former Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr. clarified that these lawmakers are different from Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Senate Deputy Minority Leader Joel Villanueva, who were previously flagged.
“We will be filing cases at least against three sitting or former senators. At least three, next week,” Reyes said.
Meanwhile, the ICI recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman the filing of administrative complaints against former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan and undersecretaries Roberto Bernardo and Catalina Cabral over a ₱74-million “ghost” riverbank protection project in Hagonoy, Bulacan.
Also included were DPWH engineers and the contractor Darcy & Anna Builders and Trading.
Reyes cited a Commission on Audit report showing that no structure was built in Barangay Carillo despite full payment to the contractor.
The ICI said the DPWH officials “were grossly negligent, if not remiss, in the performance of their respective duties to ensure that the project was properly implemented and that government funds were lawfully and prudently disbursed.”
“The commission emphasizes that it does not make categorical findings of guilt, and that responsibility for determining liability rests with the proper authorities. This interim report is intended to assist in ensuring accountability in infrastructure projects and in protecting the integrity of public funds,” the ICI said.
“This briefer affirms the ICI’s mandate to promote transparency and its duty to responsibly provide the public with reliable and accurate information,” it added.