
By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro issued updates about the progress of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), a few days after the roster of its members was completed on Monday.
At the Malacañang press briefing on Wednesday, Castro noted that ICI had already begun talks with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), on the heels of the involvement of some officials in ‘ghost’ and anomalous flood control projects.
She said, noting the 16,275 reports in the Sumbong sa Pangulo website that will be handed over to the ICI, “Sinimulan na rin ng ICI ang paggawa ng kanilang structural organization nitong Martes. Nakatakda na rin nilang bisitahin ang kanilang bagong tanggapan ngayong hapon.”
The Palace press briefer meanwhile clarified that the ongoing anti-corruption drive is neither done by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the sake of leaving a ‘legacy’ to be remembered by Filipinos nor limited to DPWH.
Castro told reporters, “Ang pagtatrabaho po ng Pangulo para maipakita at maiexpose kung anuman ang mga maanomalyang flood control projects na ito [na] nagiging sanhi ng corruption, hindi po ito ginagawa ng Pangulo para magkaroon lamang ng legacy.”
She added further, “Ang pagiimbestiga naman po tungkol sa corruption ay hindi lamang para sa DPWH. Kung meron pong makikita at maibibigay na anumang records tungkol sa anumang corruption, yan naman po ay paiimbestigahan.”
Castro noted however, that the Palace is open for any change in Congress leadership, if it will aid in the ongoing probe into ‘ghost’ and anomalous flood control projects.
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