Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos (PPAB)
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Executive Director Brian Hosaka says that Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos' willingness to come forward and help in the investigation is a "big help".
Hosaka had this to say just hours after the House majority leader and presidential son declared in a letter that he was voluntarily submitting himself to the probe. The ICI received the letter on Thursday morning, Nov. 27.
Hosaka said Marcos' upcoming attendance does not necessarily imply his possible links to the flood control projects controversy, which the body is investigating.
"As I said, ang commission naman ay bukas sa any information, especially here na merong pupunta (the Commission is open to any investigation, especially now that someone has expressed willingness to come forward). Regardless if that person will voluntarily appear and testify under oath, eh malaking bagay satin 'yun (it's already a big help for us)," he told reporters.But Hosaka said the ICI commissioners will still "have to decide, if [and] when Congressman [Marcos] will be available for hearing".
And if a hearing gets scheduled: the proceedings will be livestreamed, unless Rep. Marcos requests that it be a closed-door session.
"Right now, if we really read the request of Congressman Sandro Marcos, it was not stated there [if it's going to be livestreamed or not]. So based on our rules, unless there's a request for executive session, the default would be [a] livestream," Hosaka said.
Just two days ago, former Ako-Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co accused the majority leader of having an accumulated P50.938 billion worth project insertions in the 2023, 2024, and 2025 national budgets.
Co has also implicated the latter's father, President Marcos, in anomalous project insertions reaching P100 billion in the 2025 budget alone.
"I extend my full respect to the work of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure and its efforts to uncover the truth behind the ongoing investigation on flood control projects," Rep. Marcos said in his letter.
"I stand ready to cooperate, answer questions, and provide any clarification needed to move this investigation forward," he added.