President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. assured the public on Monday, September 15, that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will leave no official untouched in its probe of anomalous flood control projects.
Marcos stressed that all implicated officials, including his cousin House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, will be investigated. The two were previously linked to the projects by Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco.
“Well, there’s only one way to do it, isn’t there? They will not be spared. Nobody, anybody will say, ah, hindi, wala tayong kinikilingan, wala tayong tinutulungan. Wala namang maniniwala siya hanggang gawin mo eh,” Marcos said during his press briefing.
The President clarified that the ICI’s work will be separate from ongoing investigations by the Senate and the House of Representatives, noting the difficulty of congressional bodies investigating their own members.
“Nag-imbestiga sila but they’re investigating themselves, which is always a little bit of a difficult situation. It’s hard to be fair. That is why we have taken great pains to make sure that that independence is respected, is recognized, and is observed. That’s what we plan to do,” he added.
Marcos also assured that the commission members have no ties to current government officials, except for Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong, who will serve as special adviser to the ICI.