Who's who: Members of Marcos’ independent flood probe body, the ICI
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 10:12 a.m.) — Following the alleged anomalies in the flood control projects, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the formation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.
On Saturday, September 13, Marcos appointed former Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Rossana Fajardo and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as members of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to investigate the alleged misuse of funds in flood control projects.
Two days later, on Monday, September 15, Marcos announced the commission’s chair: retired associate justice Andres Reyes Jr.
According to Palace press officer Claire Castro, the investigation into the flood control mess will commence immediately, following the announcements of its members.
The anomaly in the flood control projects allegedly involved several government contractors and officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Andres Reyes Jr. (Chairman)
Reyes, a retired Supreme Court associate justice, brings judicial experience to the Marcos-formed commission.
Appointed to the high court in 2017 by then-president Rodrigo Duterte, he served until his mandatory retirement in 2020.
Before his stint at the Supreme Court, Reyes was the presiding justice of the Court of Appeals, where he handled a wide range of cases including high-profile corporate and political disputes.
Reyes is part of a well-known family in the judiciary: his grandfather, Justice Alejandro "Alex" Reyes, also sat on the Supreme Court, while his father, Andres Reyes Sr., was presiding justice of the Court of Appeals. With decades in the legal profession, he has built a reputation for meticulous rulings and a strong grasp of constitutional law.
Rogelio Singson
Singson served as the secretary of the DPWH from 2010 to 2016 under the administration of the late former president Benigno Aquino III.
He is an industrial engineer serving both in private corporations and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCC).
Before joining Aquino’s cabinet, he held positions at the firm Citadel Holdings Inc. from 2002 to 2007.
Singson also served as the president and Chief Executive Officer of Maynilad from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2010, following the company's reprivatization
GOCC. Singson also served as the chairman and president of the Base Conversion and Development from 1998 to 2002.
He is also involved in the development of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Clark Special Economic Zone and the development of the Bonifacio Global City.
Rossana Fajardo
Fajardo is a certified public accountant serving as the managing partner of the auditing firm SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV & Co.).
According to SGV's website, Fajardo has served in different fields, including telecommunications, technology, financial services, and government, with a primary focus on technology risk, risk transformation, and IT Advisory.
She also graduated cum laude from the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City.
Additionally, she holds several professional certifications, including Certified Information Systems Auditor, Certified Information Systems Manager, and Certified Fraud Examiner.
Benjamin Magalong
According to Castro, Magalong will serve in an advisory capacity on the board.
Magalong is the current mayor of Baguio City. He has held the position since 2019.
Prior to becoming a politician, he served both at the Philippine Constabulary and the Philippine National Police. He once served as the chief of the national police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Magalong was appointed by detained former President Rodrigo Duterte as the contact tracing czar from July 2020 until his resignation on Jan. 29, 2021.
He also led the formation of Mayors for Good Governance.
What prompted the commission’s formation? In his fourth State of the Nation Address, Marcos criticized corruption in flood control projects, revealing that a preliminary probe had found several contractors had monopolized over P100 billion in contracts.
His investigation prompted separate inquiries in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, which uncovered more details, including alleged kickback schemes involving both congressmen and senators.
During Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, the couple, Pacifico and Sarah Discay,a accused 18 House lawmakers of being part of kickback schemes, but did not implicate any senators.
However, in a separate House probe, former DPWH engineer Brice Hernandez implicated Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada in similar schemes.
As lawmakers trade accusations, public outrage has swelled, fueling planned mass protests over the corruption scandal.
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