House Speaker Faustino Dy III has called for the partial findings of the chamber’s infrastructure committee to be handed over to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) created by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“If only I were to decide on the matter, results or all of the investigation undertaken by the infra-comm, all the reports and what transpired there during the probe, should be submitted to the ICI,” Dy told reporters on September 22. He said the move would help restore public trust, stressing that many Filipinos “don’t believe whatever is being investigated here.”
Deputy Speaker Janette Garin earlier revealed that former Speaker Martin Romualdez had already ordered the infra-committee, chaired by Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon, to wind down its hearings and focus only on measures that could prevent future anomalies. She added that Romualdez himself had questioned the need for a House inquiry once the ICI was established.
Garin noted that Dy was briefed on the matter after assuming leadership. “My understanding is that he (Dy) will respect first meetings and consultations done… as of now, the top priority is the budget,” she said. She added that if any more hearings take place, they would be mainly to endorse gathered documents and affidavits to the ICI.
Meanwhile, the Senate is pressing ahead with its separate inquiry. Sen. JV Ejercito described dismissed district engineer Henry Alcantara as a “missing link” who could potentially expose the names of lawmakers and senior Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials involved in anomalous flood control projects. Ejercito likened the scheme to a syndicate, where lower-level engineers such as Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza handled implementation, while Alcantara likely had direct dealings with top officials.
Alcantara is also central to the Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s investigation, chaired by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson. Hernandez, currently held for contempt, was allowed to retrieve documents from his home to support his accusations.
Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, both accused by Hernandez of benefiting from budget insertions, have strongly denied the claims. Estrada’s spokesperson, lawyer Bianca Soriano, said the senator remains confident no evidence will link him to the alleged kickbacks. “There is no valid ground nor sound reason for Senator Estrada to inhibit from the Blue Ribbon committee. He has consistently denied the baseless allegations against him and remains committed to performing his duties with impartiality and integrity,” she said.
At the same time, the DPWH confirmed it had delisted A.P.O. General Construction from its contractors list after uncovering falsified documents tied to a flood control project in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. Local authorities said no contract with the firm ever existed. The department has given the company seven days to explain before facing legal action.
