AN inter-agency effort spearheaded by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is in its final stages of developing a comprehensive framework for the recovery of billions in public funds and assets lost to anomalous infrastructure projects.
The initiative aims to address corruption scandals, including the highly controversial flood control scandal, by tracing, seizing, and retrieving misused funds.
ICI Chairman Andres Reyes emphasized the urgency of the task during the opening remarks at a closed-door Technical Working Group (TWG) Coordination Meeting on Asset Recovery held on October 30, 2025.
“Alam natin na bawat pisong ninakaw ay pisong nawala sa serbisyo para sa tao. Kaya’t mahalaga po na sama-sama tayong kikilos at magtutulungan para maibalik ang perang pag-aari ng publiko,” Reyes said, highlighting the importance of recovering stolen funds for public service.
The TWG meeting brought together representatives from over a dozen government agencies to discuss and finalize the framework for inter-agency coordination, information sharing, and legal procedures required for national asset recovery. The TWG is also outlining operational guidelines, timelines, and priority actions to fully support accountability initiatives.
The participating agencies represent a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to ensure successful asset tracing and recovery. Key players in finance, law enforcement, investigation, and regulatory oversight are involved, ensuring that illicit funds can be traced across multiple sectors, from banking to property registration.
The agencies involved include the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Commission on Audit (COA), Department of Justice (DOJ), Land Registration Authority (LRA), and others.
