Malacañang said President Marcos wants the independent commission tasked to investigate anomalies at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to have subpoena power.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Thursday, Sept. 4. that Marcos wants the independent commission to have a subpoena power or summon individuals involved in order to carry out the probe effectively.

“Noon po ay sinasabi po natin na mukhang walang subpoena power. Pero ang nais po ng Pangulo sa nasabing independent commission ay mabigyan po ng lakas, mabigyan ng ngipin para po mas mapatupad kung ano ang mandato ng independent commission na ito (Before, we were saying that it seemed there was no subpoena power. But what the President wants for this independent commission is to be given strength, to be given teeth, so that it can better carry out its mandate)," Castro disclosed.

"At nais po ng Pangulo na magkaroon po ng subpoena power ang independent commission (And the President wants the independent commission to have subpoena power)," she added.

The Palace official also said that the executive order establishing the independent commission is now being drafted and finalized.

"Finalizing na po. Inaayos na po at may draft na po, but finalizing pa rin po sa EO (It is being finalized. The draft is being worked on, but the EO is still being finalized)," Castro said.

On Monday, Sept. 1, President Marcos said they are finalizing an executive order to create an independent commission tasked with investigating anomalies at the DPWH, stressing that irregularities continue to be uncovered even in the proposed 2026 budget.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong's name has been mentioned in the formation of the commission's members. Magalong said he would be willing to take on the role as part of the investigating body, however, the Palace has still no words about his possible inclusion in the commission.

"Hindi po tayo makakapagsalita patungkol po diyan; depende po sa Pangulo iyan kung sino po iyong ia-appoint niya bilang miyembro po ng independent commission (We cannot speak about that; it will depend on the President as to whom he will appoint as members of the independent commission)," Castro said.

The President also refused to talk about it in an ambush interview on Tuesday.  Instead, he said the creation of the independent commission will be finalized "very soon."

Meanwhile, Castro said if Magalong was being invited to appear before the inquiry on flood control mess, the Palace will neither prevent him nor encourage him to attend the hearing.

"Parang nasa kaniya naman po iyan kung siya ay pupunta sa hearing. At kung mayroon naman po siyang maisisiwalat, mas magandang pumunta po siya (It’s really up to him whether he will attend the hearing. And if he has something to reveal, it would be better for him to go)," Castro said when asked about the matter.

"Pero para pigilan siya or para i-push siya na um-attend, parang wala naman po iyan sa mandato ng Presidente (But to stop him or to push him to attend — that doesn’t seem to be within the President’s mandate)," she added.