Livestreaming is in

After so much hemming-and-hawing, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will start next week the livestreaming of their proceedings.

- MARICHU A. VILLANUEVA

ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr. announced the livestreaming of their proceedings currently held behind closed-doors. Under intense criticisms, the ICI finally relented to a public demand for more transparency in their fact-finding investigations into the alleged “ghost” flood control projects initially at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Reyes, retired Supreme court associate justice, made the announcement last Wednesday at the public hearing of the Senate committee on justice and human rights amid public disillusion over the ICI’s avoiding public scrutiny of its proceedings. Ironically, the Senate public hearing dwelt on the proposed bill that seeks to create anew anti-corruption watchdog in the mold of the ICI.

The proposed legislation is authored by no less than Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III who authored Senate Bill (SB) 1215 proposing to create an Independent People’s Commission (IPC). Originally, Sotto cited, SB 1215 seeks to constitute a five-man body to serve as an investigatory and recommendatory body of all government infrastructure projects under review. As proposed in Sotto’s bill, the IPC will report its findings directly to the President and to recommend prosecution by the Department of Justice (DOJ) or by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Attending the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum last Wednesday, Sotto explained the proposed IPC will have greater authority, not only the power to issue subpoena. Sotto added the power to cite in contempt individuals who ignore the IPC invitation and subpoena, and against anyone who refuses to cooperate with their investigation.