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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider No ICI hearings in the next 2 weeks; here's why

No ICI hearings in the next 2 weeks; here's why

Published Oct 27, 2025 03:53 pm

At A Glance

  • The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) won't be holding any hearings on the anomalous flood control projects in the next two weeks.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) won't be holding any hearings on the anomalous flood control projects in the next two weeks.
ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka said in a press conference Monday, Oct. 27, that the body will have to defer its hearings pending the crafting of its rules and regulations for the livestreaming of its future hearings.
"The policy [on hearings], as mentioned by the chair [of the ICI], its live streaming [is] subject to the rules of procedure, taking into consideration laws, rights and possible use of the proceedings for any political agenda, and at the same time, we want to prevent publicity. So all of these will be considered while we craft our rules of procedure as soon as possible, of course," Hosaka said.
ICI Chairman retired Supreme Court (SC) associate justice Andres Reyes Jr. announced during a Senate hearing last Oct. 22 that the body would start livestreaming its hearings the following week.
But the body eventually walked back on the announcement, and said it would only start opening its hearings to the public once the rules of procedures and parameters for livestreaming were already in place.
"Definitely [the livestreaming of hearing will happen] before the next scheduled hearings, which were supposed to be around Nov. 11 or 12th, something," Hosaka said.
There is no scheduled hearing this week—or between Oct. 27 and 31—because ICI member Babes Singson is not available, according to Hosaka.
There is also no expected attendee or hearing yet for next week, from Nov. 3 to 7.
In the meantime, Hosaka bared that the ICI will continue the case build-up on the 421 "ghost" flood control projects that it had already identified.
"Right now, we are looking at, as we already mentioned to the public, and through you guys, that we are looking at the 421 those projects that we shared or we informed the public, and we are targeting that we would like to look into the ghost projects first," Hosaka said.
ICI’s last hearing was conducted on Oct. 22, where Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Christina Aldeguer-Roque served as a resource person.
Former House Speaker and Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez was scheduled for his second hearing on the same day, but he said he could not attend due to a medical reason.
Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who was implicated in the flood control project anomalies, was also expected in a hearing during the same week, but ICI said he, too, requested for another rescheduling.
It was the second time that Bernardo asked to postpone his hearing, also due to medical reasons.
ICI's hearings are now less frequent compared to its first weeks of existence. From Sept. 19--when its first hearing was set--to Oct. 22, the body had been conducting hearings at least twice a week.
The other resource persons who have so far participated in ICI hearings were: former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretaries Manuel Bonoan and Mark Villar, former Bulacan 1st district engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, Senator Chiz Escudero, former senator Grace Poe, Navotas lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, former DPWH undersecretary Cathy Cabral, Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada and a representative of the Anti–Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
After attending three ICI hearings, the Discaya couple said on Oct. 15 that they would no longer be cooperating with the Iindependent commission.
As this developed, ICI has already referred at least 15 flood control project-related cases to the Office of the Ombudsman for the filing of charges.
It has also requested for an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) for a total of 49 individuals composed of senators, congressmen and DPWH officials who could potentially serve as resource persons in its ongoing trial.
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