00:00Amid concerns over the future of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure,
00:04questions have been raised following the resignation of a key official.
00:08Despite these challenges, the Commission's leadership remains optimistic
00:12about its continued work and supports the creation of a new body
00:16with broader powers to address corruption.
00:19Harley Valbuena tells us more.
00:23After Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Boying Remulya's pronouncement
00:27that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI might last only one to two months,
00:33doubts on ICI's future are now being raised.
00:37This is also after the resignation of former Department of Public Works
00:41and Highway Secretary Rogelio Babe Singson as ICI Commissioner.
00:45But ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes Jr. believes that the Commission will stay for the next two years.
00:52I think we'll do it for two years.
00:55We will work very hard until whatever is the date of our existence.
00:59However, Reyes said it is also okay to them should ICI's stint be shortened than what is expected
01:06as he expresses confidence in the push for the creation of an Independent People's Commission.
01:12And President Ferdinand R. Marcus Jr. already called on Congress to include this in their priorities.
01:17Once established, the Independent People's Commission will be given the powers to issue subpena,
01:30freeze assets, cite in contempt individuals, cancel PRC licenses, grant witness immunity and protection,
01:38release lookout orders or recommend whole departure orders, and blacklist contractors.
01:43ICI Special Advisor and former PNP Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr.
01:48meanwhile assured they will just continue fulfilling their mandate
01:51as they still have a heavy load of documents to study and investigate.
01:56We have to focus dun sa pagre-review ng mga documents, yung voluminous document na itinarno over ng CIDG and NBI
02:04of the 80 na priority cases involving yung top 15 na contractors that were identified by the President.
02:13Singson, on the other hand, declined to answer questions from the media
02:18as he renders his final days in the Commission before the effectivity of his resignation on December 15.
02:24The ICI, meanwhile, praised the surrender to the NBI of contractor Sara Diskaya
02:30and the cancellation of passport of resigned Representative Zaldico.
02:35We are being blessed by God. Thank you.
02:38Hardy Valbena from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
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