Vice President Sara Duterte believes that the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) tasked to investigate the various anomalous infrastructure projects in the country was merely a way for President Marcos to control the narrative and legitimize the commission’s report despite its questionable findings.

Speaking on the sidelines of her visit to the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan on Saturday, Oct. 18, the official raised concerns about the possible reports of the ICI since this would impact the budgets for the next three years, as well as the 2028 elections.

“Hindi ko alam bakit meron pang investigation ang ICI. Kasi napakadali naman nun. Ilang milyon ang confidential funds ng Office of the President (I don’t know why there was an investigation by the ICI. Because it is so easy. How many millions are the confidential funds of the Office of the President)?,” she asked.

“Sila-sila lamang sa loob ng kanilang opisina magagawa nila na mag-case build up gamit ang resources ng Office of the President. At i-file nila yon diretso…saan man na korte. Pero bakit kailangan pa niyang magbukas ng ICI, ng komisyon (They can do that case build up using the resources of the Office of the President. And they can file that directly to whichever court. Why do they need to open an ICI, a commission?),” she furthered.

Earlier, Duterte also shared that she used her office’s confidential funds to investigate the P2.4-billion overpriced laptop purchased by the Department of Education (DepEd) for teachers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Vice President alleged that the ICI was established so the public won’t know what’s really happening in the investigation, pointing out that “someone” already left the commission because the investigation was being controlled.

“Kung ano man yung investigation report ng ICI, yan na yung official na kwento ng nangyaring korapsyon. At yun ang i-feed nila sa mga tao at sasabihin nila na ito yung kwento at ito yung mga kailangan nating gawin, mga responsible (Whatever the report of the ICI investigation is, that will be the official story of what happened in the corruption. That is what they will feed the people and they will say this is what happened and this is what we will do, these are the ones responsible),” she explained.

The official added that Marcos will insist the investigation was legitimate because it was done by an independent commission.

“So, paniwala ko nili-legitimize nila iyong kwento nilang gustong lumabas (So, I believe they are legitimizing the story they want the public to believe),” Duterte stressed.

Duterte visited the OVP’s Satellite Office in Pangasinan to celebrate the OVP’s 90th year and to conduct a gift-giving activity for the sellers of religious items, souvenirs, and local delicacies.