Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, together with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, conduct an on-site inspection of major infrastructure projects in Pampanga on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. The officials checked the progress of the San Agustin Bridge in Camba and the Candating flood-control project in Arayat, both designed to improve mobility and strengthen the province’s disaster resilience against flooding.Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Marilyn Cahatol

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176032950939920250923-flood-cointrol-pampanga-ici-MT21 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, together with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, conduct an on-site inspection of major infrastructure projects in Pampanga on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. The officials checked the progress of the San Agustin Bridge in Camba and the Candating flood-control project in Arayat, both designed to improve mobility and strengthen the province’s disaster resilience against flooding.Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure has secured evidence that can incriminate individuals accountable for the billion-peso corruption issue in flood control projects, said member and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson.</p><p>When ABS-CBN journalist Karen Davila, in an interview, asked Singson if the commission now holds a &quot;smoking gun&quot; in the flood control corruption issue, he said, &quot;Meron na. Ayaw lang namin i-spook ang mga pwede naming habulin. Because if we wait for legal process, ang haba niyan.&quot;</p><p>He said the administrative remedies for the long judicial process are already being discussed with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs and the Philippine banking system.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/7/ici-on-having-no-contempt-powers-we-will-make-do-with-what-we-have-1554">ICI on having no contempt powers: &#x27;We will make do with what we have&#x27;</a></div><p>He said the commission may recommend concerned agencies to freeze individuals’ assets, chase unpaid taxes, or confiscate items with incomplete documents.</p><p>Singson added that they are also looking at working with the Philippine Competition Commission for the alleged bid-rigging scheme.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/almost-100-of-bidding-in-flood-projects-rigged-ex-dpwh-exec-bernardo-1807">Almost 100% of bidding in flood projects &#x27;rigged&#x27;: Ex-DPWH exec Bernardo</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘NO PUBLIC HEARING’</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Since its establishment last month, the ICI has firmly said its hearings will not be livestreamed, despite the public’s call for an open investigation for the sake of transparency.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/9/magalong-no-anomalies-in-closed-door-ici-hearings-0134">Magalong: No anomalies in closed-door ICI hearings</a></div><p>Singson said, “The mandate of ICI, based on EO (Executive Order) 94 is for us to investigate. So para kaming pulis, nakakita ka na ba ng pulis na nag-iimbestiga na may media na naka-cover? Hindi naman eh.”</p><p>“We will be telegraphing certain information, mabubulabog. To tell you very candidly,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/11/de-lima-urges-ici-to-open-infra-scandal-probe-to-public-1722">De Lima urges ICI to open infra scandal probe to public</a></div><p>He said ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka will be “doubling” also as the commission’s spokesperson.</p><p>“Ang usapan with him is inform the media as often as you can, but hold regular press briefings twice a week for transparency. Every time that there’s something significant that comes up, inform the media,” he said.  </p><p>Singson explained that the commission may hold executive sessions to allow witnesses to expose critical information with proper documentation, pictures and details. Hearings may be livestreamed if only general information will be shared.</p><p>The ICI member assured that all hearings will be audiovisually taped.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/12/lawmaker-says-ici-needs-time-in-flood-control-probe-1622">‘We don’t want them to be fast but fail’: Ridon says ICI needs time in flood control probe</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>‘NO STATE WITNESS’</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Singson said he personally does not want any of the protected witnesses of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to be state witness.</p><p>&quot;State witness? No way. Personally, medyo malayo sa state witness, as against protection lang,” he said.</p><p>The DOJ last month <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/24/ex-dpwh-engineers-disacayas-now-considered-protected-witnesses-by-doj-1442">granted </a>government contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya, as well as former DPWH engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza the Witness Protection Program, despite <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/24/palace-wants-return-of-ill-gotten-wealth-for-witness-protection-bid-1426">calls </a>for them to first return their ill-gotten wealth. </p><p>Singson said, “They are not the least guilty. They are not. They are principal players. Nakinabang na yang mga yan. Tama na, galit na ang tao dahil sa kanila.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/7/marcos-urged-to-certify-as-urgent-bill-giving-ici-more-teeth-1342">De Lima calls on Marcos to certify as urgent a bill giving ICI more teeth</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TMEVeIjL80E?si=gbWaXoZxb6ofaWAO" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The Independent Commission for Infrastructure has secured evidence that can incriminate individuals accountable for the billion-peso corruption issue in flood control projects.</p>

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure has secured evidence that can incriminate individuals accountable for the billion-peso corruption issue in flood control projects.

'Meron na': ICI secures evidence vs culprits in flood control corruption

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'Meron na': ICI secures evidence vs culprits in flood control corruption

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 13, 2025 01:14 PM PHT

|

Updated Oct 13, 2025 02:03 PM PHT

Read More:

Rogelio Singson

Independent Commission for Infrastructure

ICI

flood control

corruption

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