By Brian Campued
Malacañang on Tuesday stressed that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) was not created “just for show” nor to cover up the Marcos Jr. administration’s allies linked to alleged anomalous flood control projects.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the remark in response to some lawmakers questioning the sincerity of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s anti-corruption efforts, including the creation of the ICI.
“Kitang-kita naman po kung ano ang naging effort ng Pangulo at ng administrasyon na ito para masawata ang korapsiyon sa bansa, especially with regard to the anomalous flood control projects. May mga tao lamang po talaga na hindi siguro makuntento sa ginagawa ng Pangulo,” Castro said.
She emphasized that the President has previously made clear that no one would be exempt from the investigation.
“Walang sinasanto—kaalyado, kamag-anak, kaibigan, kung kinakailangang maimbestigahan, imbestigahan. ‘Yan po ang utos ng Pangulo,” she said.
This as the ICI’s fate remains in limbo, with Marcos Jr. yet to decide whether to appoint new members or determine the next steps for the commission.
The body was established on Sept. 11, 2025 through Executive Order (EO) No. 94.
Despite EO 94 mandating the investigation of transactions covering the past 10 years, Castro cited former ICI commissioner Rogelio Singson’s statement that their fact-finding mandate has already been completed.
“Ang kailangan na lang po dito ay ipunin, i-gather ang mga ebidensyang nakalap, pati po ang mga testimonya ng mga taong kanilang naimbitahan,” Castro said. “So with that, with the pieces of evidence that they were able to gather, malamang po mairerekomenda na nila ang mga kasong dapat isampa.”
She clarified that the President is awaiting the submission of the ICI’s report on the probe into questionable flood control projects before making his decision regarding its fate.
“Sa ngayon po, ang sinabi naman po ng Pangulo, depende pa rin po yan sa naging trabaho at dapat makita kung hanggang saan na po ba ang naging trabaho ng ICI,” the Palace official said.
If the ICI were no longer allowed to continue its operations, Castro stressed that investigative bodies such as the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman, as well as law enforcement agencies, are capable of taking over the investigation.
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