By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday appointed retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres B. Reyes, Jr. as chairman of the newly formed Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which will investigate irregularities in public works projects.
The three-person commission would convene on Monday as part of his administration’s broader anti-corruption drive, the President told a news briefing.
“He has been a… for a very, very long time with a very good record of honesty and fairness and a good record of being able to find justice for those who have been victimized,” he added.
The inquiry was launched after allegations surfaced that funds intended for flood-control infrastructure were misused or siphoned off through questionable projects. The controversy has triggered public anger as recent storms and monsoon rains inundated parts of the country, leaving homes and farms damaged.
“We have to make it nothing less than a turning point in the conduct of governance in the Philippines. We have to make a change, and it is a fundamental change in the way that we do business,” Mr. Marcos said, quoting the ICI chief.
The President created the commission through Executive Order No. 94 to investigate anomalies in flood control and other infrastructure projects, with authority to recommend criminal, civil and administrative charges.
The ad hoc fact-finding body is empowered to subpoena witnesses, access financial records, and gather intelligence reports. It may recommend the filing of criminal, civil, or administrative cases, as well as preventive measures such as suspensions.
Its role is to conduct hearings, gather evidence, and then forward its findings to the appropriate agencies, such as the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice or Civil Service Commission, for further action.
“The power to hold people in contempt, I think, was not necessary (to the ICI) simply because this is not a prosecutorial body—this is an investigative body,” Mr. Marcos said.
The commission is set to meet daily to finalize its organizational matters, including the structure of the secretariat, staffing needs, officer assignments and necessary forms. Whether their meetings will be held privately or publicly will be left to their discretion.
Mr. Reyes, 75, was an appointee of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte and a graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law. He was a Supreme Court justice from 2017 until his retirement in 2020.
Mr. Reyes earned a master’s degree in public administration from the Philippine Women’s University. He is a “third-generation justice” in the family, according to his profile on the Supreme Court website. His grandfather Alex A. Reyes, Sr. was a justice of the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.
His father Justice Andres C. Reyes, Sr., was a former presiding justice of the appellate court.
He also taught at the Arellano Law School and College of Law of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila before attaining senior status at the appellate court.
Joining him as members of the fact-finding body are former Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson and Rossana A. Fajardo, former chairperson of the Procurement Policy Board-Technical Support Office and now country managing partner at SGV & Co.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong is also a special adviser to the committee.
Mr. Marcos cited Mr. Magalong’s credibility and skills as an investigator, recalling how he first came to know him through his seminal report on the Mamasapano incident while serving as the Crime Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) head.
He added that during an earlier visit to Baguio, Mr. Magalong had already produced another detailed and well-prepared report, showing his dedication to thorough investigative work and his potential to contribute significantly.
Mr. Marcos earlier said that about P100 billion of the total P545 billion in government funds that were allotted for flood control projects since 2022 were cornered by only 15 contractors.
The controversy has already led to the resignation of the Public Works secretary and a leadership change in the Senate, where Vicente C. Sotto III replaced Francis G. Escudero as president of the chamber. Mr. Escudero admitted receiving campaign donations from a contractor but denied influencing contract awards. — with Norman P. Aquino