The Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition (R2KRN) welcomes the issuance of Executive Order No. 94 creating an Independent Commission for Infrastructure.
We recognize this as a concrete response to the public demand for accountability in the wake of massive anomalies in flood control and other infrastructure projects. We appreciate and construe its provisions within the limits of Presidential powers under the Constitution.
Given the magnitude and systemic nature of the corruption being unraveled, this Commission’s work should proceed on complementary track with the ongoing congressional investigations and the initiatives of accountability institutions.
The Commission’s composition will be most critical.
We await the appointment of its Chairperson and Members, whose competence, integrity, and independence will define whether this new body would inspire confidence or fall short of public expectation. Its leadership, institutional capacity, and outputs will define and establish its credibility.
Ultimately, however, the most crucial appointment in this battle against corruption remains that of the Ombudsman.
We reiterate our earlier call for the appointment of an Ombudsman who is fiercely independent, courageous, and committed to using the full powers of the office to confront entrenched corruption.
The Ombudsman — both the individual and the institution — is the lynchpin that can transform findings into prosecution, ensure systemic reforms, and act as the true Protector of the People.
R2KRN stands ready to engage both the Independent Commission and the incoming Ombudsman, contributing participation and vigilance to help ensure that these initiatives deliver genuine accountability.
Download statement here: R2KRN Welcomes the Creation of An Independent Commission; Awaits Important Steps