By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is bound to continue fulfilling its mandate to go after individuals and groups tagged in the flood control mess as part of the Commission’s ongoing probe on this pressing national concern.
This, as the Supreme Court (SC) dismissed a petition filed by lawyers Jacinto Paras, Manuelito Luna, and Ferdinand Topacio challenging the creation of the independent flood control probe body on Wednesday.
In the petition, the lawyers claim that ICI’s creation violates the equal protection clause, usurps the legislative power of Congress, and violates the Constitution.
The SC en banc ruled that this petition failed to meet the requirements of judicial review and also violated the hierarchy of the courts, thus placing the credibility of these claims into question.
Malacañang meanwhile, welcomed this decision by the high court that upholds the validity of Executive Order No. 94 s. 2025, which affirms the commitment of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to uphold accountability and protect public funds.
In a statement, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro touted this development as indicative of the Chief Executive’s good faith and trust in government institutions.
“Sa naging desisyon ng Supreme Court patungkol sa pagbuo ng ICI ay naipakita ng Pangulo sa taumbayan ang maganda niyang hangarin para magkaroon ng malalimang pag-iimbestiga sa mga maanomalyang flood control projects.”
The Chief Executive created the Commission on September 11, 2025 as part of a government-wide crackdown against corruption and a thorough scrutiny into ‘ghost’ and anomalous flood control projects across the archipelago.
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