By CESAR JOLITO III
The People’s Coalition for Good Governance (PCGG) has called on the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to make its hearings public, saying its current policy of confidentiality has “raised suspicion and criticism” and eroded public trust.
In a statement released yesterday, PCGG convenor Wennie Sancho said that while the ICI was created to ensure accountability and transparency in the investigation of infrastructure projects, its decision to hold closed-door proceedings “contradicts the very principles it was established to uphold.”
“As a result, ICI’s reputation has taken a hit,” Sancho said in a statement.
“If transparency and accountability are the twin pillars of justice to punish those corrupt politicians who plundered government coffers, then the people should not be denied the right to listen to the arguments on how deceit and manipulation were committed in the flood control project scams involving senators and congressmen,” he added.
Sancho cited Article 2, Section 28 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which mandates full public disclosure of all state transactions involving public interest, as well as Article 3, Section 7, which guarantees the people’s right to information on matters of public concern.
He emphasized that the Constitution requires government bodies to disclose information even without demand from citizens, describing transparency as a “non-negotiable cornerstone of a democratic republic.”
“The ICI’s policy of confidentiality may have been intended to protect sensitive information and encourage honest testimony,” Sancho said.
However, “it has had the opposite effect — fueling speculation, criticism and distrust,” the PCGG convenor said.
According to Sancho, the secrecy surrounding ICI proceedings has transformed the body “from an independent watchdog into an institution that seems more interested in concealing the truth than revealing it.”
He urged the commission to reconsider its policy and adopt more transparent measures, such as opening hearings to the public and releasing detailed reports on its findings.
“Only through transparency and accountability can the ICI restore its reputation and demonstrate its commitment to the public interest,” Sancho said.
“The people have the right to know about matters that affect their welfare. We are a democratic republic, not a police state. Secrecy often leads to the betrayal of public trust,” he added.
No probe livestream
Earlier, ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka maintained that the fact-finding body’s hearings would remain private, adding that they would not be livestreamed to avoid “trial by publicity” and any political influence.
Hosaka said yesterday the ICI is standing by its decision not to conduct public hearings.
He said the commission is wary of statements made by resource persons invited to the hearings without verification, saying it might just be an effort to confuse the public.
Meanwhile, Malacañang maintained yesterday that it would depend on ICI whether to make its investigation public, amid calls for more transparency in probes concerning anomalous flood control projects.
The probe body is currently investigating infrastructure projects in the past 10 years for anomalies and irregularities in order to identify who should be held accountable for corruption.
Malacañang emphasized that ICI would complement the broader mandate of the Ombudsman, ensuring a more efficient and transparent investigation into the anomalies.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice would be expedited once the ICI completes its document gathering and preliminary investigations into the anomalous flood control projects. / With reports from GMA Integrated News / CJ, WDJ