Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Job Manahan

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/175774339188720250820-marcos-flood-control-inspection-baliuag-PPA36.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand &quot;Bongbong&quot; Marcos Jr. expressed intense anger over the discovery of &quot;ghost&quot; flood control projects in Bulacan during his inspection of a riverwall project in Barangay Piel, Baliuag. Photos by Yummie Dingding/PPA Pool</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE) </strong>— President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has appointed former Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson and SGV Country Managing Partner Rossana Fajardo as members of the powerful Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), Malacanang announced this Saturday. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/12/how-bids-are-rigged-in-flood-control-projects-a-former-contractor-speaks-2005">How bids are rigged in flood control projects: a former contractor speaks</a></div><p>Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, meanwhile, will serve as a special adviser and investigator for the panel, according to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro. </p><p>Castro said these individuals were appointed because of their “proven competence, integrity, and deep familiarity with infrastructure, finance, and institutionalized or rather institutional reform.”</p><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/175774598422020171211-senate-dpwh-hearing--1-JC.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson at the Senate inquiry on DPWH projects, December 11, 2017. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">Castro said Singson—a DPWH chief during the administration of the late President Benigno Aquino III—would bring decades of experience to the panel.</p><p>Aside from being the head of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), his technical understanding on how projects were designed, procured, and implemented is “essential” in the work of the commission.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/11/marcos-announces-creation-of-independent-body-on-flood-control-probe-1412">Marcos forms 3-member independent body to probe flood control, other infra anomalies in past decade</a></div><div><br/></div><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/1757745924958cropped-viber_image_2025-09-13_14-27-15.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">SGV Country Managing Partner Rossana Fajardo. Courtesy of SGV and Co</span></span></span></div><p>Palace said Fajardo is a public accountant and a leader at SGV. </p><p>“She has worked across both public and private sectors to help organizations defect fraud, strengthen governance, and build more accountable institutions,” Castro said. </p><p>“Her technical insight and financial acumen are critical in following the trail of public funds and determining where leakages and irregularities may have occurred,” she added.</p><p>The Palace said that the three have “extensive experience in addressing problems within institutions and enforcing reforms in large organizations.”</p><p>“Most importantly, none of them is connected to any agency or contractor they are investigating. It is the right of the public to have a true independent commission,” Castro added.</p><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/WXkcyc92JkE?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>The chairperson of the independent commission will be named by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the coming days, Castro said.</p><p>Marcos issued Thursday an executive order creating a three-member independent commission set to probe anomalies in infrastructure projects.</p><p>The powerful investigative panel has subpoena powers and could compel entities to produce contracts, bank documents, and other information for the probe.  </p><p>Marcos earlier said he would not put a politician in the investigative panel as he prefers lawyers and investigators.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/19/dpwh-chief-admits-existence-of-ghost-flood-control-projects-vows-probe-1233">DPWH chief admits existence of &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood control projects, vows probe</a></div><p>The body is mandated to “hear, investigate, receive, gather, and evaluate evidence, intelligence reports, and information” either complaint or motu proprio, against all government officials and employees and other individuals involved in anomalies, irregularities, and misuse of funds in the planning, financing, and implementation of government flood control and other infrastructure projects nationwide.</p><div><br/></div><div><em></em><strong>RELATED VIDEO</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/Ug77mm7qZAQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><em></em><br/></div>

<p>In a press conference, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced that former DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson and SGV Country Managing Partner Rossana Fajardo have been named as members of the body.</p>

In a press conference, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced that former DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson and SGV Country Managing Partner Rossana Fajardo have been named as members of the body.

Palace names 2 members, 1 advisor of independent body to probe flood control mess

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Palace names 2 members, 1 advisor of independent body to probe flood control mess

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 13, 2025 01:58 PM PHT

|

Updated Sep 13, 2025 03:16 PM PHT

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BBM

flood control

Ferdinand Marcos Jr

politics

independent commission

ICI

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