Jamaine Punzalan

The members of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure—Justice Andres Bernal Reyes Jr. (Chairperson), Rogelio “Babes” Singson (Member), and Rossana A. Fajardo(Member)—take their oath of office before Court of Appeals Justice Pedro Corales. Photos courtesy of PCO

Article (news)

Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI)

Johnson Manabat

Katrina Domingo

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/175988818967620250915-independent-commission-infrastructure-HP3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The members of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure—Justice Andres Bernal Reyes Jr. (Chairperson), Rogelio “Babes” Singson (Member), and Rossana A. Fajardo(Member)—take their oath of office before Court of Appeals Justice Pedro Corales. Photos courtesy of PCO</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Tuesday promised to continue its mandate of investigating flood control anomalies in government despite having no powers to contempt resource persons or individuals possibly involved in corruption.</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><p>In an ambush interview, ICI Executive Director Brian Kieth Hosaka said that while the commission only has recommendatory power, it is actively investigating those involved even without the authority to cite anyone in contempt.</p><p>“[T]here’s no contempt powers, but we will make do with what we have. In fact, we’ve been doing our mandate, we’ve been actively investigating despite the lack of that power,” Hosaka told reporters.</p><p>The ICI also allayed fears of white washing investigation as it continuously conducts closed-door hearings.</p><p>“Of course there won’t be white washing… We’re here to find the truth so definitely there’s no white washing here,” Hosaka said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/1/ici-eyes-sen-mark-villar-as-resource-person-in-flood-control-probe-1542">ICI eyes Sen. Mark Villar as resource person in flood control probe</a></div><p>The ICI stood firm with its decision not to livestream its investigation to avoid being used for political agenda or leverage.</p><p>The commission instead releases photos inside the ICI hearing showing its resources persons.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>VILLAR APPEARANCE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>On Tuesday, Senator Mark Villar attended the hearing where he, according to Hosaka, narrated how he managed the DPWH when he was the secretary of the said agency.</p><p>“It went well, the senator just explained the processes he applied during the time that he was the DPWH Secretary with regard to how he managed the department,” according to Hosaka.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/7/sen-mark-villar-attends-ici-probe-into-flood-control-mess-0921">Sen. Mark Villar attends ICI probe into flood control mess</a></div><p>Government contractors Pacifico “Curlee” and Sarah Discaya attended the hearing for the second time but asked the commission more time to produce all the documents requested from them. </p><p>“They asked for a resetting for 7 days. The next hearing would be set on October 15 at 2 p.m. They were asking time to recuse certain documents which the commission requested. I cannot divulge that (pertaining to the requested documents),&quot; said Hosaka.</p><p>Cornelio Samaniego III was also present during the hearing but refused to give any statement to the media.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/7/marcos-corrupt-officials-are-not-the-face-of-government-1207">Marcos: Corrupt officials ‘are not the face of government’</a></div><p>The Discayas are scheduled to attend the next hearing on October 15. </p><p>Meantime, Hosaka refused to comment on the proposed bill that will give more power to the ICI.</p><p>“We have to wait until the actual law is passed for us to be able to comment but again, it&#x27;s a policy determination by Congress if they want to create a commission by law, so we have to wait for that,” said Hosaka. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MARCOS WILL NOT MEDDLE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants transparency in the investigations on billions-worth of anomalous flood control projects, but will not meddle with the operations of the ICI, Malacañang said on Tuesday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/29/-sarswela-ni-martin-escudero-tags-ex-speaker-romualdez-in-flood-control-mess-1604">&#x27;Sarswela ni Martin&#x27;: Escudero tags ex-Speaker Romualdez in flood control mess</a></div><p>The Palace gave the statement amid growing public clamor for the panel to open its investigations to the public instead of holding closed-door interviews and discussions.</p><p>“Gusto po ng Pangulo na maging transparent ang lahat… pero kung ano ang gagawin ng ICI dito ay kanila ang proseso. Hindi magdidikta ang Pangulo sa kanilang proseso,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters.</p><p>“Kung ang clamor ng tao ay i-open sa public ang hearing nila, sila ang may karapatan na magdesisyon sa proseso,” she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sl1daHU6e7M?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nl3U31UTnXg?&amp;t=6s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mQKEy5oHrSc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The ICI also stood firm with its decision not to livestream its investigation to avoid being used for political agenda or leverage.</p>

The ICI also stood firm with its decision not to livestream its investigation to avoid being used for political agenda or leverage.

ICI on having no contempt powers: 'We will make do with what we have'

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ICI on having no contempt powers: 'We will make do with what we have'

Johnson Manabat,

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 07, 2025 03:54 PM PHT

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Updated October 08, 2025 09:50 AM PHT

Read More:

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Independent Commission for Infrastructure

ICI

flood control projects

corruption

transparency

Brian Hosaka

Mark Villar

Discaya

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