Malacañang said the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) may also look into other questionable infrastructure projects flagged by Congress, once supporting documents are submitted.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after separate congressional actions raised questions about government spending.

At the House of Representatives, lawmakers filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the so-called “haunted hospital” project of the Department of Health (DOH). In the Senate, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian disclosed that the government allegedly lost more than P10 billion due to overpriced farm-to-market road projects under the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In a press briefing on Thursday, Oct. 9, Castro said these projects can be referred to the ICI to determine whether government funds were misused and if the same contractors are involved.

“Kapag po may mga dokumento, maaari naman po itong ibigay agad sa ICI para kung sino po iyong mga concern na mga tao dito at involve ay maari pong agad maipatawag para magkaroon ng mas mabilisan pag-iimbestiga (If there are documents, these may immediately be turned over to the ICI so those involved can be summoned and investigated more quickly),” she said.

Castro said that the commission could handle these cases alongside its ongoing probe into the anomalous flood control projects.

“Lahat po naman ng infrastructure na kwestyonable ay maaari pong isailalim sa pag-iimbestiga ng ICI (All questionable infrastructure projects may be placed under ICI investigation),” she added.

According to Castro, President Marcos’ directive to the ICI is to investigate all suspicious infrastructure projects, not only those related to flood control, noting that some contractors appear to be linked to multiple agencies.

“Ang ginawa pong independent commission ay patungkol po sa maanomalyang flood control projects and infrastructure. Ibig pong sabihin, lahat po ng maaaring i-report nila na may mga anomalya, maaari pong imbestigahan — iyan po ang gusto ng Pangulo (The independent commission was created to address anomalous flood control projects and infrastructure. This means any reported anomaly may be investigated — that’s what the President wants),” she said.

Meanwhile, Castro said that the government’s Sumbong sa Pangulo website has received 19,729 complaints as of Thursday morning.