Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Throws Speculations on Creation of ICI amid the Flood Control Mess in PH
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President spoke on the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) for the flood control probe.
Countless Filipinos were left angry and disappointed by the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption in the Philippines. Amid the issue, Pres. Bongbong Marcos ordered the creation of an independent body for infrastructure probe. The Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI was created and it is armed with broad powers.
The ICI has the power to issue a subpoena as well as the power to move for the freezing or seizure of the assets linked to anomalies. However, it does not have the power to cite individuals in contempt.
The three-member independent body has invited several government officials tagged in the flood control issue including Senator Chiz Escudero, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and Sen. Joel Villanueva. It has also invited controversial contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya to the probe.
However, the ICI recently announced that the Discayas have withdrawn their cooperation in the flood control probe. It reportedly came after ICI member Rogelio Singson claimed no one has yet to qualify to become a state witness.
Following the withdrawal of contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya from cooperating with the ICI, Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that the contractors are “possibly” protecting Sen. Bong Go, Sen. Mark Villar, and former Sen. Cynthia Villar.
Previously, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte expressed her confidence that the flood control probe will not lead to her citing that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) had no flood control projects. According to her, Sen. Bong Go might allegedly be used in the supposed attempt to involve her and former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to the issue.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte spoke on the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure amid the flood control issue in the Philippines. Based on a report in PhilStar, the Vice President believes that the ICI was formed to supposedly legitimize the story that the Marcos Jr. administration allegedly wants the people to believe in.
“Nagbukas sila ng ICI para kung ano man yung report ng ICI, yun na yung official na kwento ng nangyaring korapsyon, at yun na yung ifefeed nila sa tao, at sasabihin nila na ito yung kwento at ito yung gagawin nating responsible,” she said.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte further claimed that the Filipino people won’t allegedly be able to refute the results of the investigation of the ICI on the flood control issue because the independent body is “legitimate”. Based on the report, she believes that the story is being legitimized through the commission.
“That way ikaw na mamamayan, hindi mo na ma-dispute, di mo na ma-kontra yung results dahil sasabihin niya, legitimate yan… Paniwala ko, nile-legitimize nila yung kwento na gusto nila lumabas,” the Vice President said.
Previously, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte also claimed that she was allegedly attacked by the Marcos Jr. administration even when she was still part of the Marcos Cabinet.