REPRESENTATIVE Elijah “Eli” San Fernando of the Kamanggagawa Partylist has issued a scathing critique of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), labeling it as “inchoate, comedic, incompetent.”
The statement, released today, follows recent resignations of ICI commissioners and reports of staff departures.
“Matagal na nating sinasabi na inutil ang Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) – it has no funding of its own, staff of its own, and no coercive powers,” Rep. San Fernando stated. “Ngayong nag-resign ang mga commissioner nito, at nakatanggap ako ng impormasyong may mga staff din na umaalis na sa ICI dahil sa iba’t ibang kadahilanan, mas malinaw na wala na itong silbi bukod sa maging deodorizer ng administrasyon para lang masabi na may ginagawa ito patungkol sa flood control scandal.”
(We have long said that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is useless – it has no funding of its own, staff of its own, and no coercive powers. Now that its commissioners have resigned, and I have received information that some staff are also leaving the ICI for various reasons, it is clearer that it has no purpose other than to be a deodorizer of the administration just to say that it is doing something about the flood control scandal.)
Rep. San Fernando accused Malacanang of being out of touch with public sentiment, suggesting the ICI was created to appease the public rather than address a major corruption scandal.
“Mula’t sapul, alam ng mga manggagawa at ordinaryong Pilipino na ginawa ang ICI para pahupain ang galit ng mamamayan. Nabubuhay ata sa ibang mundo ang Malacanang at pilit na pinaniniwala ang sarili na may tiwala pa ang mga Pilipino sa tinatakbo ng imbestigasyon at pagpapanagot sa mga sangkot sa greatest corruption scandal in recent history.”
(From the beginning, workers and ordinary Filipinos knew that the ICI was created to appease the anger of the people. Malacanang seems to live in another world and stubbornly believes that Filipinos still have confidence in the progress of the investigation and the accountability of those involved in the greatest corruption scandal in recent history.)
The statement concluded with a direct challenge to the President to certify the ICAIC Bill as urgent. “May choice ang pangulo, i-certify niya as urgent ang ICAIC Bill. Hayaang gumulong ang imbestigasyon at panagutin lahat kahit pa kamag-anak, kaalyado, o kaibigan niya ang mga ito. Kung hindi niya gagawin, let’s call spade a spade: pati Pangulo, inutil.”
(The president has a choice, he should certify the ICAIC Bill as urgent. Let the investigation roll and hold everyone accountable even if they are relatives, allies, or friends. If he doesn’t, let’s call a spade a spade: even the President is useless.)
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