Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Chairman Andres Reyes has called for the return of illegally acquired wealth, even as the fact-finding body forges ahead with its investigations into anomalous flood control projects involving corrupt government officials and their private sector cohorts.
Reyes stated that justice alone is not enough to heal the nation and that all government agencies are working together to pool resources to recover the assets of criminals involved in these projects.
“All those persons responsible for this may be prosecuted and jailed, but to completely heal our nation, justice is not enough. We need restitution,” he said yesterday.
Reyes said the money could have been used on building schools, hospitals, and road projects, but was instead “burned wantonly on useless luxuries and vices.”
He made the comments following an ICI meeting on asset recovery, attended by various agencies, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Securities and Assets Commission, Department of Justice, and Department of Public Works and Highways, among others.
This came on the heels of Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya’s refusal to cooperate further with the ICI, invoking their right against self-incrimination.
The BIR has filed multiple tax complaints with the DOJ against the contractor couple, as well as a corporate officer of their firm, St. Gerrard Construction, over P7.1 billion in unpaid tax liabilities from 2018 to 2021.
Meanwhile, Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice urged the President to call for a special session of Congress to swiftly pass legislation granting full investigative powers to the ICI.
The minority bloc solon pointed out that the Discaya couple’s decision to stop cooperating with the Commission’s investigation, casts doubt on its ability to compel witnesses and secure critical evidence.
Erice explained that because the ICI was only created through an executive order, it lacks the legal authority to compel private individuals and entities to participate in the investigation.
“Without a law, the commission is powerless and could become inutile. This refusal to cooperate will encourage others to do the same, undermining the credibility of the investigation and delaying justice in what may be the biggest public fund heist in Philippine history,” the lawmaker warned.
On September 11, the President formed the independent commission through Executive Order No. 94 to probe anomalies in flood control projects involving government officials and private contractors.
The ICI is the sixth government body to conduct parallel investigations into the flood infrastructure deals mess, following separate efforts by the Commission on Audit, the Ombudsman, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.
Mr. Marcos stated that the ICI will serve as an investigative arm and submit recommendation.
