Days of crooks numbered

Marcos creates independent body with broad powers to probe flood control mess

- ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

President Marcos has signed Executive Order (EO) No. 94, creating the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), a powerful fact-finding body tasked to investigate corruption and irregularities in flood control and other public works projects.

Based on the EO, the ICI's immediate priority will be the review of flood control projects implemented within the last 10 years. This comes after President Marcos expressed outrage in recent weeks over reports of ghost and substandard projects, describing corruption in the sector as already "garapalan" or brazen.

The President had earlier vowed to give the probe body "all the powers that are necessary" to get to the bottom of the anomalies and recommend long-term safeguards.

"The Administration is firmly committed to maintaining honesty and integrity in public service, and will take decisive measures to repress and hold accountable government officials and employees, and any other individual, who engage in graft, corrupt practices, or other acts that undermine the national interest and betray the people's trust," the EO read.

Based on the EO, the commission members must be of "proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence." They will have authority to hear complaints, gather evidence, issue subpoenas, recommend cases, and even seek preventive suspension of officials under investigation.

While the names of the members of the ICI are not yet disclosed, the President had earlier said that no politician will be part of the commission.

Broad investigative powers