Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte Refuses to Appear at ICI Hearing
PAOLO DUTERTE
– The Davao Congressman believes that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is allegedly President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s tool to destroy their family’s “good name”.
Amid the flood control mess in the Philippines, President Bongbong Marcos ordered the creation of an
independent commission that will probe the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption
in the country. The executive order led to the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI.
The ICI is a three-member body led by former Justice Andres Reyes Jr. The independent commission has already invited several government officials into their flood control investigation.
One of those government officials who appeared before the
ICI was former House Speaker Martin Romualdez
. According to him, he is willing to extend any information and help he can to speed up the resolution of the flood control issue.
Recently, it was reported that the ICI has invited presidential son and Ilocos Norte Congressman Sandro Marcos as well as Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte to the flood control hearing. The invitation came amid the claim of Zaldy Co that tagged the younger Marcos to the supposed budget insertion issue.
There are also questions over the flood control projects in Davao City. However, recently, Davao Cong.
Paolo Duterte sent a letter to ICI chairman Andres Reyes informing him that he will not appear before the commission
The Davao Congressman stressed that the ICI was created under an executive order. In his letter, he pointed out the separation of powers and claimed that the commission allegedly has no jurisdiction over him.
“The ICI appears without power nor jurisdiction over me,”
Duterte said.
Recently, Davao Cong. Paolo Duterte spoke on his decision to decline the invitation of the ICI to appear to its hearing. Based on a
post
“I view ICI as President Marcos Jr.’s tool for pure political propaganda to weaken, or worse destroy the name of VP Sara, FPRRD and our Duterte family’s good name. It is continuing political propaganda and harassment against our family with a view to the 2028 Presidential, national and local elections,”
the Davao Congressman said.
Photo Courtesy of Philippine Star
In the case of the presidential son who was also invited by the commission, Ilocos Norte Cong.
Sandro Marcos claimed that he is ready to appear before the ICI citing that “no one is above the law”