Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Commissioner Babes Singson on Thursday, Dec. 4, made one final call to Congress as he announced his resignation from the independent body: pass a measure that will establish a more powerful commission.

Singson, who held a press conference following the announcement of his impending departure from ICI, expressed frustration not only with the Commission's limited power but also with the lack of support from the government.

He said this has resulted to the Commission receiving all the "flak" and the "blame" in connection with the flood control projects corruption scandal.

Singson expressed his frustration at the fact that the ICI was created through Executive Order (EO) No. 94 without any immediate budget.

"ICI was created, I would imagine, as an urgent matter. Kulang sa budget, walang budget. Nasa dyaryo ang budget, wala sa amin. Ganon ang sitwasyon (It lacks budget, in fact, no budget at all. It's only in the newspapers that it's said, there's a budget. But we actually do not have it. That's the situation)," he said.

"Up to today, I think, wala pang nagsesweldo dyan sa mga volunteers dito (none of the volunteers have been compensated)," Singson noted. The ICI began operations in mid-September.

"Kumbaga lumaban ka sa giyera, solve mo 'yung problema, di ka naman binigyan ng armas. Ano nangyari sayo, e di nakatiwangwang ka (It's like asking you to enter into a war, solve the problem, without you being given any weapons. So what happens to you? You are exposed)," he said.

Aside from lack of financial support, Singson says the ICI doesn't have "enough powers" to hold those involved in the anomalous flood control projects accountable.

The commission cannot issue subpoena to those involved, it cannot halt their departure from the country, it cannot make any arrest, and it cannot prosecute anybody, he said.

ICI also has "to resort to administrative measures" to bring at least some immediate justice, he said. Only through coordination with various agencies can it penalize people behind rigged biddings and freeze assets acquired illegally, among others.

"You cannot defend yourself. You have no powers. Mag-imbita ka, kung ayaw pumunta, wala ka ng magagawa (You can invite a resource person but you cannot force him or her to attend). You do not even have subpoena powers. Kung gusto mong wag paalisin ang isang tao (If you want to stop someone from leaving), we don't have that [power]," he said.

"We have to go to court for a hold departure order. Oh ano nangyari, nakaalis, sisisihin pa kami don, edi punching bag ka nanaman (Then what happened? A resource person still managed to leave the country. We get blamed and we get treated like a punching bag again)."

"We were absorbing a lot of the flak for something that we do not have power to do. Ipakulong nyo yan yung kurakot, wala nga kamign power na ipakulong. Edi sinong sinisi, ICI, ambagal nyo, you must be protecting somebody, so binato na lahat sa ICI (They ask us to jail those involved, but we don't have that power. Now, who's to blame? The ICI. They would say we're slow, that we must be protecting somebody. So everything is hurled at the ICI)," he added.

Singson in effect admitted to having discussions with Caloocan 2nd district Rep. Egay Erice, who first relayed to the public the commissioner's frustrations concerning the ICI.

Singson then appealed to the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass the measure establishing the Independent People's Commission.

"I hope people understand that ICI, on its own, cannot solely carry the burden. We need the support of other government institutions, particularly at this time, both houses of Congress, the Senate and the Lower House," he said.

"So we are appealing to the leadership of the House and the Senate to please pass that before the year ends," he added.

He said this would pave the way for a "much stronger independent commission with proper power and authorities that ICI does not have".