Meet the members of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure tasked to probe on flood control projects

The Malacañang has announced on Saturday, Sept. 13, the members of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, which is tasked to investigate anomalous flood control projects in the last 10 years.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named former Department of Public Works and Highways secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson and SGV Country Managing Partner Rossana Fajardo as members of the ICI.

Meanwhile, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has been designated as a “special adviser who will act as investigator for the ICI.”

“To lead this task, the President has appointed individuals of proven competence, integrity, and deep familiarity with infrastructure, finance, and institutional reform,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Saturday.

"Pinakamahalaga sa lahat, wala ni isa sa kanila ang konektado sa anumang ahensiya o kontratistang iniimbestigahan. Karapatan ng publiko ang magkaroon ng isang tunay na independent commission. Kagaya nang paulit-ulit na sinabi ni Pangulo, walang sasantuhin dito kahit kamag-anak, kaibigan, kaalyado. There will be no sacred cows," she stressed, adding that they will begin working "immediately."

On Sept. 15, Marcos appointed former Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr. as the chairperson of the ICI.

Marcos earlier said that no politicians would be involved. When asked about Magalong's involvement, Castro explained that he is a "special adviser" and not a part of the three-member commission. 

"He handled sensitive, high-impact investigations and helped lead institutional reforms in law enforcement through intelligence-driven, forensic-based approaches," Castro said.

"As Mayor of Baguio City, he has continued to apply his strict standards of transparency and accountability in local governance. His experience in leading difficult investigations, uncovering internal wrongdoing, and enforcing compliance makes him a strong asset to this commission," she added.

The ICI is tasked to recommend the filing of appropriate charges and recommend to the appropriate government bodies the enforcement of remedies, corrective actions, or legislative measures.

The fact-finding body will get assistance from the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation, the National Prosecution Service, the DPWH, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, and offices in the national government's executive branch "to accomplish its mandates."

It also has the power to conduct hearings, take testimony, and receive, gather, review, and evaluate evidence, issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents, recommend to the DOJ the admission of a person as a state witness, and obtain information and documents from the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Get to know the members of the ICI:

Rossana Fajardo

Fajardo is a certified public accountant with extensive experience in auditing and risk management. She earned her bachelor's degree in Accounting with cum laude honors from the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City.

Per her LinkedIn page, she completed the Ernst & Young Kellogg Account Leadership Program at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management in Illinois in 2012, and later from the Account Leader Program at London Business School in 2018. In 2001, she also earned her Executive MBA from the Asian Institute of Management as the firm's scholar.

She started at SGV & Co. as ASEAN Consulting Quality Leader and worked her way up to being the Consulting Leader, Partner, and now the Country Managing Partner.

Over three decades, she has worked both in the public and private sectors, including financial services, telecommunications, media, consumer and health, utilities, advanced manufacturing, and government and infrastructure, wherein she helped organizations "detect fraud, strengthen governance and build more accountable institutions, per Castro.

“Her technical insight and financial acumen are critical in following the trail of public funds and determining where leakages and irregularities may have occurred,” Castro added.

She also holds several professional certifications as a Certified Information Systems Auditor, Certified Information Systems Manager, Certified Fraud Examiner, also a Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control.

Rogelio Singson

Singson worked as the head of the DPWH during the late President Noynoy Aquino's administration from 2010 to 2016, where he oversaw the implementation of major government infrastructure projects nationwide. He also led the Good Governance and Anti-Corruption Program at the time.

“As former Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways, he led one of the most significant reform efforts in the agency’s history, introducing systems to promote transparency, eliminate ghost projects, and ensure proper use of public funds,” said Castro.

“His technical understanding of how projects are designed, procured, and implemented will be essential to this commission’s work,” she added.

He currently works as the president and chief executive officer of Metro Pacific Water and Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation. Per its website, Singson was directly involved in the major projects of SBMA, Clark SEZ & BCDA, including the privatization and development of Bonifacio Global City. 

He also served as the head of the Base Conversion and Development Authority from 1998 to 2002. 

He earned his bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of the Philippines.