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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Hindi kakayanin?': De Lima thinks ICI can't handle growing scope of flood control projects mess

'Hindi kakayanin?': De Lima thinks ICI can't handle growing scope of flood control projects mess

Published Sep 25, 2025 07:56 pm

At A Glance

  • Mamamayang Liberal (ML ) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima believes that the Palace-created Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) won't be able to handle its probe on the flood control projects corruption scandal given its ever-growing scope.
Mamamayang Liberal (ML ) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (Facebook)
Mamamayang Liberal (ML ) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (Facebook)


Mamamayang Liberal (ML ) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima believes that the Palace-created Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) won't be able to handle its probe on the flood control projects corruption scandal given its ever-growing scope.
This, as even more government officials--most notably lawmakers--were implicated in the controversy following the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing Thursday, Sept. 25.
"This is the biggest corruption scandal in our history, and we cannot address it with partial solutions. Hindi sapat at hindi kakayanin ng ICI na imbestigahan ang napakalawak na katiwaliang ito gamit lang ang limitadong kapangyarihan nito," she said in a statement Thursday.
(The ICI does not have sufficient capacity and capability to investigate this vast corruption using only its limited powers.)
"Dapat na ring bilisan ng DOJ (Department of Justice) at Ombudsman ang pagsasampa ng matitibay na mga kaso (The DOJ and the Ombudsman must also expedite the filing of solid cases)," De Lima said.
"As the plot thickens, it becomes even more urgent and imperative to pass House Bill (HB) No. 4453. To ferret out the truth and ensure accountability–whoever is involved–Congress must act swiftly and decisively," she noted.
The full title of House Bill (HB) No. 4453 reads, “An act creating an independent commission to investigate the misuse of funds for flood control and other infrastructure projects, granting it broad investigative and subpoena powers, providing for a secretariat, and for other purposes.”
De Lima, a member of the House minorory bloc, is one of the bill's authors.
"Manatili po tayong mulat. Dahil sa bawat pinapangalanan, pwedeng may pinagtatakpan. Sa bawat inilalaglag, pwedeng may isinasalba at naghuhugas ng kamay. Habang may nagbibigay linaw, may pilit nagpapalabo at nanggugulo," reckoned De Lima.
(Let us remain vigilant. Because for every person named, someone might be getting covered up. For every one thrown under the bus, someone might be getting saved and washing their hands. While some offer clarity, others deliberately sow confusion and disruption.)
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