Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Commissioner Rogelio Singson expressed a preference for either another lawyer or a former justice to join the commission after he officially announced his irrevocable resignation.
“It has to be a former justice from the Supreme Court or any other court, but definitely it has to be a lawyer with a lot of experience, especially in the prosecution,” said Singson, who will stay at the ICI until Dec. 15, attributing health concerns as a major reason for his decision.
Singson, a professional industrial engineer, earned a reputation as a straightforward public official during his tenure as the secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under the administration of the late former President Benigno Aquino III.
The DPWH is currently under investigation by the ICI due to issues related to the government’s flood control project from 2016 to the present.
“When I accepted the job, I said my role here is for only three months; Justice Andy Reyes knows that,” said Singson, referring to ICI Chairman Andres Reyes Jr., who was a Supreme Court associate justice.
Singson emphasized the importance of prioritizing high-profile cases involving top officials, indicating that his advocacy focuses on significant matters rather than smaller, collateral concerns.
“I have always been advocating that the commission focus on the top. We don’t want to focus on the small fries; that’s collateral. Let us focus on the top because I think the people expect that,” said Singson, whose primary role in the ICI was to provide the technical aspects of the DPWH process — from project identification, implementation, approval, and the budget process for both local and Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects.
In late October, the ICI disclosed its initial findings regarding a corruption scheme that implicated government officials, including senators and members of the House of Representatives, who were involved in securing a government project.
This revelation led to the ICI’s recommendation to the Office of the Ombudsman to initiate both administrative and criminal proceedings against several former and current government officials.
Among those recommended for charges are current Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, along with former Ako Bicol Party List representative Zaldy Co, former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana, and former Caloocan Rep. Mitch Cajayon-Uy.
On Wednesday, the ICI also proposed filing criminal charges against former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and ten other individuals. The potential charges may encompass direct or indirect bribery, corruption of public officials, plunder, and various administrative sanctions.
The ICI also requested that the Ombudsman carry out a more thorough investigative review and case development concerning Senators Francis Escudero and Mark Villar, as well as former senators Nancy Binay and Grace Poe, based on allegations made by a former DPWH undersecretary.
Aside from Singson and Reyes, former SC spokesman lawyer Brian Keith Hosaka, as well as SGV and Co. Country Managing Partner CPA Rossana Fajardo, were also appointed as members of the ICI, while former Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin serves as special adviser and investigator.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. established the independent commission via Executive Order 94 to investigate irregularities in flood control projects that involve both government officials, including lawmakers, 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.
