Manila, Philippines – On Monday, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure held its last hearing for 2025, summoning former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Catalina Cabral as the resource person.
Executive Director Brian Hosaka said last week that ICI invited Cabral over the commission’s investigation, after she was tagged on the issue of alleged budget insertions and kickbacks from flood control projects.
Cabral has faced the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s own probe several times, where she denied the said allegations, before resigning from the post last September.
Presently, despite invitation, Cabral was no show at ICI’s Monday hearing.
Hosaka noted that the commission did not receive any confirmation on Cabral’s appearance, nor a reason for her absence on ICI’s probe.
It can be recalled that last September 24, Cabral already faced the ICI, but this new invitation is regarding matters the commission needed to verify from the former DPWH undersecretary.
Amid the allegations, Cabral was recommended to be charged with administrative cases over violation of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees in relation to infrastructure irregularities, including the P95.04 million flood control projects in Bocaue, Bulacan.
AGAP PARTYLIST REP. BRIONES, DBM OFFICIALS FACE ICI
Based on ICI’s earlier advisory, Cabral is the only resource person invited over Monday’s hearing.
While she snubbed the invitation, AGAP Partylist Representative Nicanor Briones and some officials of the Department of Budget and Management presented themselves before the ICI, still in relation to the flood control mess.
Briones was earlier tagged by government contractors Sarah and Curlee Discaya in the flood control anomaly.
During the hearing, Briones requested an executive session, also refusing inquiries from the media.
His lawyer, meanwhile, represented him before the media, noting that Briones denied before the ICI the allegations of the Discayas.
On the other hand, some DBM officials including Acting Secretary Rolando Toledo, Director Andrea Celene Magtalas, Undersecretary Janet B. Abuel, and Assistant Secretary Mary Anne Z. Dela Vega attended ICI’s afternoon session.
As Toledo once again faces ICI, the commission sought to clarify the process and possible knowledge of DBM over budget amendments and insertions.
Toledo also affirmed earlier statements of former secretary Amenah Pangandaman that DBM has no knowledge and role over the amendment process within the legislative branch.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News