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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider ICI open to inviting First Lady, others in hearing if needed — Hosaka

ICI open to inviting First Lady, others in hearing if needed — Hosaka

Published Oct 21, 2025 03:46 pm

At A Glance

  • The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is open to inviting First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos or any other relevant personalities in its flood control project hearing, but only if there is sufficient reason to do so.
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The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is open to inviting First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos or any other relevant personalities in its flood control project hearing, but only if there is sufficient reason to do so.
ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka made the pronouncement on Tuesday, Oct. 21, after a certain John Santander submitted a letter of request urging the body to probe a possible link between Araneta-Marcos and Maynard Ngu, a businessman and alleged "bagman" of Senator Chiz Escudero.
Escudero had already denied anything to do with the controversy.
Santander, in an appeal he submitted as a private individual, cited various reports and photos establishing an alleged connection between the two individuals.
Hosaka did not reject the idea of inviting relevant individuals to its hearings, but he said the Commission must be careful in doing so. He said there must be "credible information" in any evidence, testimonies or affidavits being submitted to ICI; otherwise, these won't be acted upon.
"We are also being cautious (because) we also want to make sure that any information that gets to the commission is, in a way, credible. Susuriin naming mabuti yan kasi nga nag-iingat kami dito na 'yung commission ay hindi nagagamit para sa (We will look into that thoroughly, we want to be careful and ensure that the commission isn't being used for) political agenda," he said when sought for ICI's comment on Santander's request.
"Kung ang mga bibigay na mga information or request dito sa ICI eh obvious na hindi naman natin alam kung saan nanggaling, hindi sila verified complaint, walang sufficient basis, then of course, we will take that. Titingnan namin kung meron ba talagang basehan to, kung meron, we will move further (If any information or request that's being given to ICI is apparently unfounded, is not a verified complaint or doesn't have any sufficient basis, then we will have to look into that first. Otherwise, we will move further) ," he added.
Hosaka says the body is encouraging everyone to come up to the ICI, "if they have any information to share with us".
"As long as it's credible, it has legal basis, then we will welcome that. But we will always be careful in assessing this evidence, and these statements and these affidavits or even testimonies by people who will be going to ICI," he added.
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