Palace defers ICI findings to ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is leaving it to the ombudsman to disclose the flood control findings of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

“We’ll leave it up to the ombudsman to reveal the details,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said yesterday.

The ICI has turned over its findings on the flood control scandal to the Department of Justice.

DOJ spokesman Polo Martinez said the files could be similar to those given to the ombudsman a week ago.

“We’ll study the documents, see if they point to any leads we could use in filing the case eventually down the line,” Martinez said yesterday.

Castro said the ICI may use its P41-million budget until Dec. 31 for necessary expenses, including activities related to the committee’s winding down of operations.

Unused funds would be returned to the unappropriated surplus of the general fund under the national treasury, she said.

ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr., who was left alone to carry out the body’s mandate, earlier said the commission would end its operations on March 31.

Reyes, a retired Supreme Court associate justice, met with Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida for yesterday’s turnover of documents.

The DOJ may refer the ICI findings to the National Bureau of Investigation or ombudsman, Martinez said.