Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, through INC spokesperson Edwin Zabala, called on the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) to be transparent, warning that secretive proceedings could lead to public distrust and further unrest.
“The hearings in the ongoing investigation must be open and witnessed by the public,” he said.
“We believe that for peace to exist, it is necessary to continue investigating that widespread distrust, and to do so with transparency and without bias or cover-up,” he added.
In an appearance on Net 25’s Sa Ganang Mamamayan segment, Zabala said the INC is calmly observing the current situation in the Philippines and hopes for peace and justice in the country. “We have seen the steps taken by the government to find out the root of the reported anomalies in the said projects,” he said, urging the Senate to continue its investigation, which it suspended on Oct. 4.
Meanwhile, ICI Executive Director Brian Keith Hosaka said Tuesday that the commission remains committed to finding the truth and will “not allow any whitewashing” in its ongoing probe. “That’s why it is very crucial that the commission carefully untangles this web of corruption. This is not a simple modus,” he said in a message to reporters.
Hosaka added that the ICI is verifying all evidence and testimonies it receives, cautioning that some information “might be false and possibly given to mislead the investigation and even the public for whatever agenda by some people.” He said the ICI may also expand its investigation into alleged infrastructure corruption to include the heads of the Land Transportation Office and the Bureau of Customs in connection with the alleged smuggled luxury cars of the Discaya couple.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains firm in his directive for a transparent and independent investigation into the so-called “ghost” flood control projects—programs that were funded but never constructed.
“The President established the ICI precisely to have an independent investigation, broad but independent, into questionable flood control projects and infrastructure programs,” Castro said during a Palace briefing. “He does not want any cover-up. That’s exactly what he’s against,” she added.
Her remarks came amid heightened public scrutiny of the government’s handling of the corruption scandal and renewed calls from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to protect the integrity of the investigations.
In a statement, the CBCP warned that “any move to change Senate leadership or redirect investigations now would only heighten public suspicion of a cover-up.” The bishops also opposed attempts to preempt or derail the probes through backroom deals, leadership reshuffles, or selective justice.
However, Castro emphasized that the Senate and the ICI are free to conduct their inquiries without interference from the executive branch. “Whatever the Senate decides in its investigation is no longer within the President’s purview,” she said.
“We do not know what processes the Senate will follow, but that doesn’t mean that if they do not conduct their own investigation and leave it to the ICI, there will automatically be a cover-up,” she added.
Asked about public calls for transparency amid the ICI’s decision to hold closed-door proceedings, Castro said Malacañang supports openness but will not dictate how the commission should operate.
“Of course, the President wants everything to be transparent, but we cannot dictate how the ICI will proceed. If they hear the public clamor for open hearings, it will be up to them to decide. They have the right to determine their own process,” Castro said.
