ICI to livestream investigations on flood control project scandal
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure on Wednesday said that it will livestream its investigations into the anomalous flood control projects starting next week.
During a Senate hearing by the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, ICI chairperson Andres Reyes Jr. said that the livestreams will commence once the technical preparations are completed.
"We will now go on to livestream next week once we are able to have the technical capability with us already," he said.
Sen. Kiko Pangilinan commended the decision and highlighted how this is welcome news.
"People would like to know the facts of these cases and would like to be updated as to the developments and the progress of the investigation. And a livestreaming of the proceedings will definitely address this concern of the public," he said.
Despite this, Reyes noted how the commission still lacks adequate staff and resources, which has posed challenges to the pace and scope of their investigation.
"We are only 39 days old. For the last 21 days, we only had three lawyers. And now we have some volunteers from the other agencies," he said in his opening statement.
"We will try our best to be able to have a full blast investigation of all this fraud. We don't have the facility, and we don't have the rules of procedure, but we will already shorten the procedure in spite of no rules allowing us," he added.
Reactions to livestreaming the hearings
Several lawmakers and other concerned personalities have weighed in on the ICI's decision to make their proceedings available to the public.
Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima welcomed the news and thanked the commission for heeding their call to make its hearings open and transparent.
"Sa pagsasapubliko ng ICI hearings, hindi na lang ICI ang nag-iimbestiga. Kasama na rin ang taumbayan sa susuri at titimbang, hindi lang sa kanilang mga iniimbestigahan kundi pati na rin sa kung paano ang takbo ng kanilang imbestigasyon," she said in a statement.
"Hindi natin ito tatantanan. The people are watching. Truth, justice and accountability shall prevail. Bilisan ang pagsasampa ng matibay na mga kaso. Managot ang dapat managot. Ikulong ang mga kurakot!" she added.
Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña echoed the same sentiments, but added that the previous proceedings should also be made public.
"Finally nakinig ang ICI na dapat napapanood ng publiko ang hearings. Pero paano ‘yung mga naunang hearing? Dapat full transparency hindi pwedeng selective," he said.
"Dapat klaro din ang kahahantungan: may makulong, maisoli ang mga ninakaw, at maisabatas ang Open Bicam at Open Infra Bill!" he added.
On the other hand, Makati Business Club Executive Director Rafael Ongpin, who was also at the hearing, expressed reservations about the decision to livestream.
"We believe that all the ICI sessions should be public, but the ICI itself should have the authority to declare confidential sessions with no streaming or broadcast. Because, speaking as a former journalist, this can very easily turn into a circus," he said.
"The accused, they're entitled to due process, and we cannot turn this into a public shaming exercise," he added.
Apart from Reyes, the ICI is also comprised of certified public accountant Rossana Fajardo, former Department of Public Works and Highways secretary Rogelio Singson, and former Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr.
The ICI is tasked to recommend the filing of appropriate charges and recommend to the appropriate government bodies the enforcement of remedies, corrective actions, or legislative measures in connection with the anomalous flood control projects in the last 10 years.
The fact-finding body will get assistance from the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation, the National Prosecution Service, the DPWH, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, and offices in the national government's executive branch "to accomplish its mandates."
It also has the power to conduct hearings, take testimony, and receive, gather, review, and evaluate evidence, issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents, recommend to the DOJ the admission of a person as a state witness, and obtain information and documents from the Senate and the House of Representatives.
As of writing, the ICI has yet to detail where it will stream its hearings.
However, on Oct. 23, ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka announced that they have no scheduled hearing next week as Singson "will not be available the entire week."
He added that the ICI is working on the guidelines and parameters for livestreaming.
