Iloilo City council seeks inclusion in ICI probe

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Amid growing national scrutiny over flood control projects, the Iloilo City council on Oct. 29 unanimously urged the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) to include the city’s flood control initiatives in its investigation.

The 12-member body passed a resolution calling on the ICI to “conduct an immediate ocular inspection and investigation as to possible anomalies, irregularities, and misuse of funds of all flood control projects in the Lone District of Iloilo City.”

Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia, the resolution’s proponent, raised the concern following the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s recent conclusion of its inquiry into alleged flood control anomalies across the country.

He cited statements made earlier this month by Senator Erwin Tulfo, acting chairperson of the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon).

“All while the investigation has not even reached Western Visayas, despite Iloilo City gaining national attention due to sensational allegations of ghost projects and abuses related to flood control projects here,” Sarabia said.

“The Senate Blue Ribbon committee is concluding its investigation without even reaching Iloilo City?” he added.

Sarabia described the alleged irregularities in the city’s flood control projects as “daylight robberies” and lamented that the city council lacks the authority to issue subpoenas or cite individuals in contempt.

“The truth of the matter is that, despite all the pure and moral intents in the world, the City Council is powerless to conclusively bring to justice the guilty parties in this flood control scandal,” he said.

“We are at the mercy of the justice system, and if the justice system fails to act promptly, the truth will be twisted. And of course, if lies are told a million times, the lies will eventually be perceived as the truth,” he added.

Sarabia further remarked that now is “the perfect time” for corrupt officials to act, as “the truth is at its most vulnerable.”

He also criticized the “People’s Meeting” recently organized by Iloilo City lone district Rep. Julienne Baronda, saying it only offered “general statements and conjecture” instead of addressing key public concerns.

“I could not help but be candid with my disappointment with the People’s Meeting as it seems that it did not even serve the interest of the people,” Sarabia said.

“It failed to answer the hard-hitting and pressing questions of the people,” he added.

“Among the many questions left unanswered are as follows: Number one, does Iloilo City really have no ghost infrastructure project?” he asked.

Councilor Sheen Mabilog, the council’s lone opposition member, supported the resolution with reservations, suggesting that the ICI probe should extend beyond flood control projects to include other infrastructure initiatives and funding sources.

When asked by reporters why his resolution focused on flood control, Sarabia said it was because these projects are at the center of current controversies and are explicitly covered by Executive Order No. 94 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in September.

Section 3 of the order mandates the ICI to investigate “flood control and other infrastructure projects nationwide” that may involve violations of law or misuse of public funds.

Sarabia added that the ICI has full authority to examine both national and local projects, including those of the city government.

He noted that recent public discussions have also raised questions about other city-funded projects, such as a waiting shed in Barangay Katilingban in Molo district and an overpass along Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue (Diversion Road) in Mandurriao district, which have been criticized online as allegedly overpriced.