THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has given assurance on its commitment to press investigations into irregularities in government projects involving public officials, some lawmakers, and private contractors.
Meanwhile, Malacañang said the full P41 million in government funds allocated for the ICI has already been released and now accessible for the probe body.
At the same time, the Palace urged lawmakers to cooperate with the ICI. The call was issued after Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte rejected the panel’s invitation to attend its inquiry into alleged irregularities in flood control projects in his legislative district.
The ICI issued the statement in response to reports suggesting that the fact-finding panel, established by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. through Executive Order 94, may only have a month or two remaining before it concludes its probe and submits all findings to the Office of the Ombudsman.
“The commission shall remain in place and continue its duties until it completes its mandate or is dissolved by the President. This is stated in the Executive Order that created the ICI,” said executive director Brian Keith Hosaka.
This announcement came as the ICI received its P41-million funding for 2025.
“The Notice of Cash Allocation, or NCA, was issued by the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) this morning, Dec 5. We will coordinate with the LBP (Land Bank of the Philippines) to determine if the ICI funds are now accessible,” Hosaka said.
The DBM approved the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the ICI’s initial funding in September, but there was a delay in the budget’s release.
On Thursday, ICI Commissioner Rogelio Singson announced his resignation and voiced his disappointment regarding the ICI’s funding shortfall.
Singson remarked that the ICI was established as a matter of urgency, yet it faced a lack of adequate funding. “There is no budget. The budget exists only in the newspapers, but it is not available to us.”
The Office of the President has authorized the allocation of over P41 million as the ICI’s budget until the end of the year, while the DBM approved the creation of 172 contractual positions for the ICI staff.
The funding will be utilized for hiring personnel for the legal department, special investigation office, and administrative and support staff in the offices of the chairman and commissioners, among other areas.
Singson earlier said the P41 million allocation appeared only “in newspapers” and did not reach the institute, a claim that fueled questions over whether the government had failed to provide support.
In a press conference on Thursday, Singson regretted the lack of funding and power for the ICI.
“Unfortunately, ICI was created, I would imagine, as an urgent matter, lacking a budget, no budget, the budget is in the newspapers, not with us. That’s the situation,” Singson blurted out.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro clarified that the Department of Budget and Management issued the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) in September and attributed the release delay to processing requirements under the Modified Disbursement System.
“The SARO has been there as early as September. The funds are already with them,” Castro said.
She the Palace has already asked the ICI to settle obligations now that the funding issue has been cleared.
“Whatever shortfall there is in the amount due, please pay it immediately,” she said, adding that the President has provided all necessary support to ICI.
According to Castro, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has received and accepted Singson’s resignation as ICI commissioner.
Singson tendered his resignation from the ICI, citing health concerns and the heavy workload tied to the post.
Castro also said public officials are accountable for their actions and should participate in investigations when requested.
“We have a saying: Buntot niya, hila niya. It means you are responsible for the consequences of your own acts,” Castro said.
She added that several legislators had already responded to the ICI’s calls for information.
“There are many legislators who have respected the call for ICI, provided their responses, and shared what they know. And if there is nothing to hide, there should be nothing to conceal,” she said.
Duterte, however, insisted he was not backing down but refused to take part in what he described as a “politically motivated spectacle.”
In a statement, Duterte lashed out at the Commission and its supporters, citing that the ICI is being used by the Marcos administration as a “propaganda committee”.
“I did not retreat. I walked away from the show. Those are two different things. If you believe the ICI is independent, you’re the one who can’t see that this is a propaganda committee of the Palace, made to cover up their failures and to use those who aren’t their allies as punching bags,” he said.
“I don’t run from real investigations. I only refuse to be part of a scripted circus pretending to be one. Kayo yata ang dinadaga kasi takot kayo at naging bayaran ng isang bangag,” Duterte added.
Duterte said all records related to the questioned projects are available for inspection.
He also asserted that he was not involved in budget deliberations or project implementation.
