Goodbye, ICI?

Is it the tip for the Unbiased Fee for Infrastructure (ICI)?

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla hinted that the fee’s days are numbered, saying ICI could have solely “a month or two” left earlier than it wraps up its probe into anomalous flood management and public works tasks and turns every thing over to his workplace.

“‘Yun ang direksyon niyan, kasi hindi naman without end ang ICI at meron namang batas na nag-create ng Workplace of the Ombudsman na ngayon naman ay very lively kami,” Remulla informed GMA’s Unang Balita on Friday, December 5. Remulla was appointed Ombudsman in October, virtually a month after ICI was created.

(That’s the route the place it’s headed, as a result of the ICI isn’t meant to final without end, and there’s a regulation that created the Workplace of the Ombudsman, which we at the moment are very lively in.)

ICI, barely three months outdated, was created by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on September 11, 2025, to research multi-billion-peso corruption in flood management and different public infrastructure tasks.

Beneath the present setup, ICI submits referrals to the Ombudsman. The constitutional physique then conducts fact-finding and preliminary investigations, then later decides whether or not a case reaches the courts.

When requested if the fee is basically shutting down, Malacañang neither confirmed nor denied it.

Undersecretary Claire Castro mentioned the Palace hasn’t mentioned the matter but, however acknowledged that with the Ombudsman actively pursuing the identical points, “maaaring maging ganoon” (that’s a risk).

“Pero as of now, wala pa po tayong pinakadetalye o anumang replace patungkol diyan,” Castro mentioned in a press briefing on Friday, December 5.

ICI Govt Director Brian Hosaka confused “the fee will stay in place and proceed its capabilities till it completes its mandate or is dissolved by the President.”

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Resignations stir uncertainty

Remulla’s feedback got here simply days after former public works secretary Babes Singson give up as ICI commissioner, citing well being causes.

However the resignations could not finish with Singson. Baguio Metropolis Mayor Benjamin Magalong — who additionally resigned as ICI particular adviser — revealed on One PH’s Sa Totoo Lang that one other ICI official is making ready to depart. He refused to call who, however with ICI’s tiny roster, the guessing sport isn’t laborious.

A number of the remaining members of ICI are Chair Andres Reyes, Commissioner Rossana Fajardo, Particular Adviser Rodolfo Azurin, and Hosaka.

Since its creation, critics questioned ICI’s transparency. There was a requirement to livestream its hearings.

The demand to livestream hearings grew after each the Home tri-committee and Senate blue ribbon committee stopped their investigations. ICI ultimately publicized hearings, however many witnesses evaded the cameras by invoking “govt classes.”

‘Weak’ establishment

Even insiders admit the fee is weak. Singson himself mentioned ICI doesn’t have sufficient powers. It will probably’t even compel a witness to look.

Price range delays didn’t assist both. Funding was authorized solely in early November, months after ICI’s creation. Hosaka mentioned that the discover of money allocation was launched on Friday, December 5. He mentioned that the fee is already coordinating with the Land Financial institution of the Philippines to find out if it will possibly begin utilizing its allotted funds.

So is it the tip for ICI? Properly, within the Home and Senate, there are pending payments that search to create an impartial fee tasked to research corruption within the nation.

Singson mentioned he hopes that additionally earlier than yearend, there can be “a a lot stronger impartial fee with correct powers and authorities that ICI doesn’t have.”

If ICI folds, a brand new investigative physique might mark a contemporary begin. However with lawmakers and even some govt members linked to flood management anomalies, can such a fee be really impartial and clear? – Rappler.com