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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider De Lima reminds ICI on promise to livestream hearings

De Lima reminds ICI on promise to livestream hearings

Published Nov 22, 2025 09:37 am

At A Glance

  • Deputy Minority Leader Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima has reminded the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to follow through on its promise to livestream its hearings on the flood control projects controversy.
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (Facebook)
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (Facebook)


Deputy Minority Leader Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima has reminded the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to follow through on its promise to livestream its hearings on the flood control projects controversy.
"Pending the passage of our proposed ICAIC bill, which the President must now certify as urgent, the ICI should honor its commitment to livestream its proceedings," De Lima said in a statement over the weekend.
"Sa dami pa ng dapat imbestigahan, kung nakatago pa rin sa publiko ang kanilang mga proceedings, nasaan ang transparency? Tiwala ng taumbayan ang nakataya dito, hindi pwedeng maramdaman nilang pinaaasa at pinaiikot lang sila," the former senator said.
(With so much still to be investigated, if their proceedings remain hidden from the public, where is the transparency? The trust of the people is at stake here; they must not be made to feel that they are only being strung along and deceived.)
The ICI haa been holding hearings on individuals allegedly involved in anomalous flood mitigation projects since mid-September.
Initially, it was insistent on holding closed-door hearings so as to prevent to proceedings from being used for certain individuals' "political agenda".
The Palace-created body has since acknowledged the clamor and committed to hold public hearings. On Friday, Nov. 21, it released its guidelines for the planned livestreaming.
"Taumbayan ang ninakawan. Taumbayan ang nagdurusa. Dapat kasama sila sa pagtukoy sa katotohanan at sa pagtugis kung sino-sino ang dapat managot (It is the people who were robbed. It is the people who suffer. They must be included in uncovering the truth and in pursuing those who must be held accountable)," De Lima underscored.
De Lima is the prime mover in the House of Representatives for the creation of the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption or ICAIC. It is essentially an upgraded version of the ICI, which is merely acting in the capacity of a special investigator .
Among the powers of the ICAIC is to conduct motu proprio investigation, full and unrestricted access to all government records, subpoena duces tecum and subpoena ad testificandum, issue hold departure order, freeze recover and sequester or attach all properties involved in misuse of funds, and order preventive suspension of involved government officials and employees.
The House Committee on Government Reorganization chaired by Bulacan 6th district Rep. Salvador Pleyto approved the measure last week, but it still needs to go through plenary.
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