By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is finalizing the executive order (EO) for the creation of an independent commission, which will be tasked with investigating anomalies in government flood control projects across the country, Malacañang said Thursday.
“Finalizing na po. Inaayos na po at may draft na po, but finalizing pa rin po sa EO,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
Castro added that the President is eyeing to grant the independent body the authority to issue subpoenas on top of its mandate to conduct a comprehensive review of projects, identify irregularities, and recommend accountability measures to restore public trust in the government’s infrastructure spending.
“Nais po ng Pangulo na magkaroon po ng subpoena power ang independent commission,” she said.
A subpoena is a summons issued to compel an individual or entity to either attend a hearing under oath or to produce specific documents or records needed for the investigation.
“Nais po ng Pangulo sa nasabing independent commission ay mabigyan po ng lakas, mabigyan ng ngipin para po mas mapatupad kung ano ang mandato ng independent commission na ito,” Castro continued.
The Palace press briefer stressed that the President would decide on the composition of the probe body after Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed willingness to take part in the investigation.
“Hindi po tayo makakapagsalita patungkol po diyan; depende po sa Pangulo iyan kung sino po iyong i-a-appoint niya bilang miyembro po ng independent commission,” Castro said.
The President previously declined to name possible members of the body but underscored that the independent commission must include forensic investigators, lawyers, justices, and prosecutors.
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