NITA warns of ‘Selective Justice’ in ICI flood control probe

National Institute for Transparency and Accountability (NITA) has raised concerns over what it calls a rapid erosion of fairness in the Independent Commission for Infrastructures’ (ICI) ongoing probe into the flood-control scandal.

In a press statement, NITA Executive Director Carlos Ayala said the ICI’s move to identify former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. as a potential respondent highlights clear “selective justice,” especially since the commission itself admitted the testimony used was hearsay and fell short of the required quantum of evidence.

Ayala noted that the affidavit of former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo—the central basis of the accusations—lacked corroborating witnesses, documentary support, and physical evidence.

Despite this, he pointed out that the ICI treated other individuals named in Bernardo’s affidavit differently. The document also mentioned Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Mark Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva, and former senators Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara, and Bam Aquino, yet none of them were recommended for charges. As Ayala emphasized, “Kung mahina ang testimonya, mahina para sa lahat. Bakit si Revilla lang ang tinutulak?”

NITA also stressed major inconsistencies in Bernardo’s claims. Although Bernardo described Revilla as a “malapit na kaibigan,” he alleged an implausible scenario involving the senator waiting for hours to receive hundreds of millions in funds—“walang saksi, walang koordinasyon, walang seguridad.”

Ayala added that the situation worsened when it was revealed that Revilla was not even summoned to give his side before the accusations were publicized.

Meanwhile, speculation continues to spread that Cong. Jolo Revilla, Cong. Bryan Revilla, and Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla may also face charges based on the same weak testimony