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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Ang layo pa nila!': De Lima disagrees with Remulla that ICI can finish probe in 1-2 months

'Ang layo pa nila!': De Lima disagrees with Remulla that ICI can finish probe in 1-2 months

Published Dec 5, 2025 06:33 pm

At A Glance

  • Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima cannot make heads or tails of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla's estimate that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) could wrap up its probe in one to two months' time.
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (left), Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla (Facebook, PPAB)
Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima (left), Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla (Facebook, PPAB)


Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima cannot make heads or tails of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla's estimate that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) could wrap up its probe in one to two months' time.
For the House deputy minority leader, it's simply impossible for the ICI to finish its inquiry given the sheer scale of its work.
"Sakop na kaya yung lahat ng infra corruption cases, at hindi lang flood control projects, within that 2 months timeline ang magiging output ng ICI? Imposible! (Will the ICI's output within that two-month timeline cover all cases of infrastructure corruption and not just flood control projects? Impossible!)
Anong nangyayari? (What is happening?) Are they trying to pre-empt a more independent, more transparent and more powerful ICAIC (Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption)? De Lima wondered, referring to legislative efforts to upgrade the ICI and give it more punitve powers.
The former senator cited the sunset clause for the ICI as stated in Section 10 of Executive Order (EO) No.94: “The ICI shall be rendered functus officio upon the accomplishment of the purposes for which it was created, or unless sooner dissolved by the President.”
"Accomplished na ba ang ICI in a month or two? Malamang, hindi pa! Ang layo pa nila! (Can ICI declare mission accomplished in a month or two? Probably not! They have a long way to go!)" De Lima said bluntly.
"O yan ba ang gusto ng Pangulo, na buwagin na agad-agad ang ICI? Sinimulan pero patitigilin nang hindi pa tapos ang trabaho? Bakit? (Or is that what the President wants, to abolish the ICI immediately? They launched it only to cut its work short. Why?)" she wondered further.
De Lima highlighted that Remulla hismelf recently praised the ICI for its work.
"Si Ombudsman Remulla na rin ang nagsabi na malaking tulong ang ICI (Ombudsman Remulla himself said that the ICI is a big help). Just think: Malaking tulong sila (It is a big help), and this is despite the very limited powers and limited resources that they now have."
According to De Lima, it's within the purview of the ICI to gather further evidence against individuals even after it made case referrals to the Ombudsman.
"Hindi naman ibig sabihin na kapag na-iforward o na-irefer na ng ICI sa Ombudsman ang mga dokumento at ebidensya about certain flood control corruption cases, ay hindi na ito pwedeng tumanggap pa ng dagdag o ibang ebidensya lalo na dun sa mga sangkot ang mga big fishes," she explained.
(It does not mean that once the ICI has forwarded or referred to the Ombudsman the documents and evidence about certain flood control corruption cases, it can no longer receive additional or other evidence, especially those involving the big fishes.)
"Ongoing pa ang imbestigasyon ng ICI, at nagsisimula pa lang itong magrekomenda ng mga kaso sa Ombudsman (The investigation of the ICI is still ongoing, and it is only beginning to recommend cases to the Ombudsman)," De Lima noted.
She says that the ICI's mandate actually casts a wider net than what most people think.
"Tambak pa ang kailangan nilang gawin pagdating sa mga dapat nilang suriin na mga posibleng paglabag sa mga batas na nakalista sa EO 94. Andami nun! (There is still a pile of work they need to do in examining possible violations of the laws listed under EO 94. There are so many!)
"Susundan pa yan ng isa pa nilang misyon, based din sa EO 94, which is to 'recommend to the appropriate government bodies/agencies the enforcement of remedies, corrective actions, and/or legislative measures to ensure the proper implementation of ongoing government flood control and other infrastructure projects'. Paano 'yun?" asked De Lima.
(This will be followed by another mission, also based on EO 94, which is to “recommend to the appropriate government bodies/agencies the enforcement of remedies, corrective actions, and/or legislative measures to ensure the proper implementation of ongoing government flood control and other infrastructure projects.” What about that?)
The Palace-created ICI began holding hearings on the flood control projects corruption scandal in mid-September.
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