ROSSANA FAJARDO: Topnotch Auditor, Accountability Champ

Why It Matters

The appointment highlighted the need for rigorous financial oversight in Philippine infrastructure projects, and Fajardo’s efforts set a precedent for private‑sector expertise in public anti‑corruption initiatives. Her resignation underscores structural limits of ad‑hoc commissions, prompting calls for permanent investigative bodies.

Key Takeaways

• Fajardo appointed to ICI to probe flood‑control scandals
• ICI conducted 32 hearings, 36 witnesses, 1,100‑page report
• SGV partner resigns after laying investigative foundation, commission dissolved
• Recognized in Inquirer Women of Power 2026 list
• Emphasized systemic, multi‑generation fight against corruption

Pulse Analysis

Philippines’ rapid urbanization has placed immense pressure on flood‑control infrastructure, a sector historically plagued by cost overruns and opaque procurement. When allegations of multibillion‑peso irregularities surfaced in 2025, the government turned to Rossana Fajardo, a veteran auditor from SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV). With three decades of experience auditing telecom, utilities and government contracts, Fajardo brought a forensic accounting mindset rarely seen in public investigations. Her academic credentials—an executive MBA from the Asian Institute of Management and leadership stints at Kellogg and London Business School—further reinforced her credibility as a watchdog.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), created by Executive Order No. 94, tasked Fajardo with building an investigative apparatus from scratch. Within six months the commission organized 32 public hearings, called 36 witnesses and compiled more than 1,100 pages of evidence, ultimately referring nine cases involving 65 individuals to the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman. Fajardo’s contribution centered on designing evidence‑gathering protocols, supervising volunteer analysts and ensuring financial trails were meticulously traced. However, the ICI’s limited mandate, scarce staffing and political pressures hampered its ability to pursue prosecutions, leading to its dissolution shortly after her departure.

Fajardo’s brief but high‑profile stint underscores two broader trends: the growing reliance on private‑sector audit expertise to bolster governmental accountability, and the persistent gender gap in senior oversight roles. Her inclusion in the Inquirer’s Women of Power 2026 list signals increasing recognition of female leaders shaping anti‑corruption agendas in Southeast Asia. Yet the ICI’s collapse highlights the need for permanent, well‑resourced investigative bodies rather than temporary commissions. Policymakers are now urged to institutionalize forensic audit units within ministries, a move that could translate Fajardo’s methodological rigor into lasting systemic reform.