Senate Deputy Minority Leader Rodante Marcoleta delivered sharp criticism against the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) during the Iglesia ni Cristo’s “Rally for Transparency and a Better Democracy” at Quirino Grandstand on Sunday, November 16.
The commission, created by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to investigate alleged irregularities in government flood control projects, is “not independent,” Marcoleta asserted.
“Tinatanong ko po kung paano naging independent ang ginawa nilang ito samantalang sila ay humihingi ng tulong sa House of Representatives, humihingi ng impormasyon sa Senado, humihingi ng impormasyon sa Sandiganbayan, sa mga korte, at sa lahat ng opisina ng ating pamahalaan,” he said.
“Hindi siya independent. At hindi ipinapakita ang kanilang proceedings… Ilang linggo na ang nakakaraan, nag-submit ng affidavit ang dating Speaker ng House of Representatives. Mayroon po bang nakakaalam sa inyo ng pangyayaring ito?” Marcoleta added, accusing the government of withholding the truth from the public.
The ICI had earlier faced criticism for refusing to make its hearings public. Although ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr. announced plans to livestream the proceedings, the initiative was later halted, according to ICI Executive Director Brian Keith Hosaka.