Palace defers ICI flood control findings to ombudsman

Malacañang is leaving the disclosure of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) flood control findings to the ombudsman. The ICI turned over its documents to the Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday. The DOJ will review them for potential leads in a case.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Malacañang will leave it to the ombudsman to disclose details of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) findings on the flood control scandal. “We’ll leave it up to the ombudsman to reveal the details,” Castro said yesterday. The ICI has turned over its findings to the Department of Justice (DOJ), with spokesman Polo Martinez noting the files could be similar to those given to the ombudsman a week ago. “We’ll study the documents, see if they point to any leads we could use in filing the case eventually down the line,” Martinez said yesterday. Castro stated the ICI may use its P41-million budget until Dec. 31 for winding-down expenses, with unused funds returned to the national treasury. ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr., a retired Supreme Court associate justice who is solely carrying out the commission's mandate, met with Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida yesterday for the document handover. The commission will end operations on March 31. The DOJ may refer the findings to the National Bureau of Investigation or the ombudsman.

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Illustration of President Marcos Jr. handing over evidence documents related to flood control project anomalies, implicating Romualdez and Co. in potential charges.
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Marcos orders evidence handover as ICI pushes plunder charges against Romualdez

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to hand over all evidence from their probe into anomalous flood control projects to the Ombudsman. This accompanies the agencies' recommendation to file plunder, graft, and bribery charges against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former congressman Zaldy Co. The Ombudsman's decision will be based on evidence from contracts and testimonies.

Following recent resignations, including Commissioner Rossana Fajardo's effective December 31, the Office of the Ombudsman is ready to take over the Independent Commission for Infrastructure's (ICI) tasks, particularly the flood control scandal probe. This aligns with earlier signals of the ICI winding down.

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Malacañang is set to review the accomplishment report of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), whose operations have been hampered by a lack of quorum after two members resigned. Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the report has been transmitted to the Office of the Executive Secretary for study. There is no information yet on whether President Marcos has spoken with ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr.

In the latest on the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) crisis, former adviser Benjamin Magalong doubts replacements can be found for resigned commissioners, while Malacañang holds off amid congressional push for a permanent body.

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Former Senate President Franklin Drilon has declared the Independent Commission for Infrastructure effectively a 'dead body,' stating it has ceased to function after key resignations. He attributes its collapse to a lack of manpower and executive support.

A Pulse Asia survey shows a decline in the percentage of Filipinos who believe government officials involved in flood control project irregularities will be punished, dropping from 71 percent to 59 percent.

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The Department of Justice has included a plunder complaint against fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co in its preliminary investigation into corruption allegations tied to flood control projects in Bulacan. DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez stated that no counsel appeared for Co, giving him until January 15 to submit a counter-affidavit. The probe also covers former Senator Bong Revilla and Senator Joel Villanueva, both denying involvement in the anomalous projects.

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