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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider US diplomat's visit to ICI a mere courtesy call—Palace

US diplomat's visit to ICI a mere courtesy call—Palace

Published Oct 20, 2025 12:41 pm  |  Updated Oct 20, 2025 01:45 pm
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro
Malacañang clarified that the visit of acting Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy Michael Kelleher to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) was a mere courtesy call.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the US ranking diplomat and the ICI did not discuss anything beyond the independent body's mandate and methodology.
"Nagkausap po kami mismo at tinawagan po natin si Atty. (Brian) Hosaka at tinanong po natin kung ano iyong kanilang naging usapan. According to him, nagkaroon lang daw po ng courtesy call at inalam lang po kung ano iyong mandato ng ICI. Just courtesy call (We personally spoke with and called Atty. Hosaka to ask what was discussed. According to him, it was merely a courtesy call where they inquired about the mandate of the ICI—nothing more)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Monday, Oct. 20.
Castro also said that the visit was not an indication that the ICI is inviting foreign development partners to audit foreign-assisted infrastructure projects as part of the investigation on the massive flood-control anomalies.
"Wala po daw silang napag-usapan doon kung hindi tinanong lang kung ano po iyong mandato at iyong methodology na ginagawa ng ICI. Pero patungkol po diyan sa mga ganyang klaseng mga opinyon, wala po daw silang ganyang napag-usapan (He said they did not discuss anything else, except for questions about the ICI’s mandate and methodology. As for those kinds of opinions being circulated, he said none of that was talked about)," the Palace press officer said.
The US official also did not make any offer to assist in the investigation, she added.
"Wala rin po silang napag-usapan. Nagtanong lang po talaga ng kung ano iyong methodology at kung ano iyong mandato ng ICI (They also did not discuss anything beyond that. It was simply to ask about the methodology and mandate of the ICI)," she reiterated.
Kelleher visited the ICI headquarters on Friday, Oct. 17. He was the first foreign official to step foot in the ICI office that was hosting the investigation on the anomalous flood control projects in the country.

Related Tags

ICI flood control probe flood control corruption Michael Kelleher
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