The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Wednesday announced it has decided to delay submitting complaint referrals to the Office of the Ombudsman concerning three current and former senators.
This decision is made in light of a new affidavit by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, which requires further investigation, as the ICI seeks a thorough and transparent process before finalizing any charges.
“We are reevaluating everything because of the affidavit of Usec. Bernardo. We are studying that. So, we’ll have a delay of maybe 10 days from last Friday. Hopefully, we’ll finish it,” ICI chairperson Andres Reyes Jr. said.
Bernardo’s supplemental affidavit, which he submitted to the commission earlier this week, is the same one he read during a recent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. The former DPWH official had reappeared in the upper chamber and detailed the alleged involvement of several public officials and lawmakers in the kickback schemes.
Among those he mentioned were Sens. Jinggoy Estrada, Mark Villar, and Francis “Chiz” Escudero, as well as former senators Nancy Binay, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Grace Poe, and former Public Works secretary Manuel Bonoan.
Bernardo has expressed willingness to become a state witness, intending to provide testimony against the individuals, including lawmakers, involved in several anomalous flood control projects in the country.
Reyes also mentioned last week that the ICI intends to initiate legal proceedings against three incumbent and former senators.
