PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed former public works secretary Rogelio Singson and certified public accountant Rossana Fajardo as members of the independent fact-finding body to investigate the alleged misuse of funds in flood control projects.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Saturday the investigation would be conducted immediately, following the announcement of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) members.
“Wala ni isa sa kanila ang konektado sa anumang ahensiya o kontratistang ini-imbestigahan (Not one of them is connected to any agency or contractor being investigated),” Castro said in a press briefing.
“Walang sasantuhin dito, kahit kamag-anak, kaibigan, kaalyado (No one will be spared here, not even relatives, friends, allies). There will be no sacred cows. The investigation will commence immediately.”
She said the appointment of the ICI chairperson will be announced “in the coming days.”
She said Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong will also serve as special adviser.
As former public works secretary, Singson led one of the most significant reform efforts in the agency’s history, introducing systems to promote transparency, eliminate ghost projects, and ensure the proper use of public funds.
Singson also served as head of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, where he managed large-scale land and infrastructure development.
“Mr. Singson brings decades of direct experience in both the planning and execution of major government infrastructure projects,” Castro said. “His technical understanding of how projects are designed, procured, and implemented will be essential to this Commission’s work.”
Fajardo, on the other hand, currently serves as country managing partner of SGB and Co., the Philippines’ largest professional services firm.
Castro said Fajardo has more than three decades of experience in auditing, internal controls, and risk management, especially in identifying weaknesses in financial systems and operational processes.
“She has worked across both public and private sectors to help organizations detect fraud, strengthen governance, and build more accountable institutions. Her technical insight and financial acumen are critical in following the trail of public funds and determining where leakages and irregularities may have occurred,” she said.
Castro said Magalong will also act as “investigator for the ICI.”
She said his new designation is crucial in uncovering the truth behind the anomalous flood projects.
“He handled sensitive, high-impact investigations and helped lead institutional reforms in law enforcement through intelligence-driven forensic-based approaches,” she said.
“As mayor of Baguio City, he has continued to apply his strict standards of transparency, and accountability in local governments. His experience in leading difficult investigations, uncovering internal wrongdoing, and enforcing compliance makes him a strong asset to this commission.”
Marcos, on Thursday, signed Executive Order (EO) 94, creating the ICI to be composed of a chairperson and two members of “proven competence and integrity.”
A secretariat, to be headed by an executive director with the rank of undersecretary, will provide administrative and technical support.
EO 94 mandates the ICI to prioritize the investigation of flood control projects undertaken within the past 10 years.
Under the EO, the ICI is directed to investigate, receive, gather, and evaluate evidence, intelligence reports, and information on irregularities in government flood control and infrastructure projects.
The ICI has the authority to issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and production of documents necessary for its investigations, as well as recommend criminal, civil, and administrative cases before the Department of Justice, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Civil Service Commission.
It may also recommend the admission of witnesses into the Witness Protection Program under Republic Act (RA) 6981 and, when necessary, endorse individuals for state witness status before the Department of Justice.
According to EO 94, the ICI may also recommend asset freezes, hold departure orders, and preventive suspensions to preserve the integrity of investigations.
The independent commission is also authorized to propose corrective actions and legislative measures to enhance transparency and accountability in infrastructure programs. (PNA)
