By Jose Cielito Reganit | Philippine News Agency
Several members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday expressed support for Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Chairperson Andres Reyes Jr.’s announcement that ICI proceedings will be livestreamed starting next week.
Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon, in a statement, said livestreamed ICI proceedings will enhance public discourse and strengthen accountability in governance.
The House Infrastructure Committee Co-chairperson said, “This is an important transparency measure to ensure that the public is fully informed of all disclosures, admissions, and evidence presented before the ICI—particularly those made by high-level officials, government employees, and private contractors identified during the investigations conducted by both the House Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.”
“We look forward to these livestreamed proceedings and reaffirm our commitment to work with the ICI—not only on existing cases already transmitted to them, but also on future cases that Congress may take up at a later time.”
Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno said the decision of the ICI is a welcome development amid the growing clamor for transparency, “Karapatan ng publiko na malaman ang nangyayari sa mga pagdinig na ito dahil sila ang direktang mga biktima ng napakaraming katiwalian ukol sa flood control projects.“
Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, meanwhile, thanked the ICI for heeding the call to make its hearings open and transparent.
She said, “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.”
Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos said the ICI decision is a positive step toward transparency, “The people deserve to see the process unfold. Livestreaming the hearings will help restore public trust and dispel doubts about the fairness of the investigation.”
He said the livestreaming initiative will also serve as a deterrent against political interference and will give the public a clearer picture of how the investigation is being conducted.
Santos said he hopes this transparency measure becomes a permanent practice for all major government investigations moving forward, especially those involving public funds and infrastructure projects.
“The ICI’s decision to go live is a victory for truth and public accountability. Transparency must not be the exception—it should be the norm.” (PNA)
