Remulla: ICI to cease infra probe soon

National

A MONTH or two from now, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) may end its investigation on the massive flood control scam.

“I think it (ICI) only has a month or two, and then they can turn over all their works to us. What they have accomplished will greatly help us in terms of speeding up the investigation and the gathering of evidence,” Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said in Filipino during an interview with GMA’s Unang Balita as reported by Philstar.

Remulla said the investigation will be handled entirely by the Office of the Ombudsman once the ICI is dissolved.

“That’s the direction it is going. ICI is not intended to be forever. We have the law that created the Office of the Ombudsman. And we are now very active. In the coming year, we will be hiring young lawyers to carry on the job,” he said.

Remulla’s statement came after Rogelio Singson resigned as commissioner of the ICI, citing health reasons.

Singson had lemented the ICI lacks budget and an enabling law to carry out its mandate.

Remulla said Singson had signified leaving the ICI.

“He told me a long time ago that he only intended to stay until December, because he also had a lot of other personal matters to attend to. It’s also really tiring,” Remulla said.

Remulla disclosed that the anti-graft office is set to end its investigation on the alleged involvement of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former senator Bong Revilla Jr. in the flood control project anomalies.

“We are wrapping up our preliminary investigation on them. Let’s see, if case information will be filed at the Sandiganbayan,” Remulla said.(MyTVCebu)