00:00The newly created Independent Commission on Infrastructure has just been sworn into duty and needs the cooperation and full support it can get to include congressional committees doing their parallel probes on the flood control construction mess.
00:14And House InfraCom co-chair Terry Ridon has expressed full support for the ICI notwithstanding their own ongoing inquiry as we hear more from our Mela Les Moras.
00:25The House Infrastructure Committee stands ready to cooperate with the newly formed Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI.
00:36According to InfraCom co-chair Terry Ridon, even though their investigation is not yet finished, they can already submit their initial recommendations to the commission.
00:46Ridon believes that even with existence of the ICI, they can still continue their hearings.
00:51Well, at this point, we are ready to proceed with yung mga ongoing po ng mga pagdinik na tinitigyan sa Bulacan, yung binget, yung mga na-announce na po namin na mga pagsisiyasad.
01:04And we are ready to work with the ICI. It's part of their mandate to work with Congress and the Senate.
01:09For now, several lawmakers led by House Deputy Minority Leader Laila De Lima are also pushing for House Bill No. 4453,
01:18which aims to further strengthen the powers of the said Independent Commission through a law and not just by an executive order.
01:25As an executive creation, ICI can only be granted with limited subpoena power.
01:31It has no contempt powers. House Bill No. 4453 has strengths which amplify an investigative commission's independence, credibility, and merits.
01:43While we appreciate the intent of Malacanang, baka sa dulo, puro mapunta lang sa files yung mga magiging findings nila.
01:52Kasi nga kulang yung kapangyarihan. It has to be legislation.
01:56So, hindi po po pwedeng kaksirup lang. Kinakailangan na mag-antibiotic. At antibiotic po, ito pong ating panukalang batas.
02:03House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Edgar Erize adds that if the ICI is strengthened, not only will those who committed wrongdoing be held accountable,
02:12but the names of those who are truly innocent will also be cleared.
02:16Nakitang-kita ko sa social media. Ang description sa amin, buhaya eh.
02:20So, kailangan matapos ito. Unfair naman sa amin na hindi gumagawa ng ganito.
02:27House Speaker Martin Romualdez has previously said that he also supports President Ferdinand R. Marquez Jr.'s statement
02:34that no one should be exempted from matters of accountability.
02:38He also agrees with the President's warning against name-dropping and reckless accusations.
02:43Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Sandro Marquez, for his part, has filed House Bill No. 3661,
02:50which seeks to disqualify relatives of government officials from entering into any government contracts.
02:56Malalas Moras from the National TV Network for a New and Better Philippines.
