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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider ICI prioritizing 80 projects linked to 15 contractors identified by PBBM

ICI prioritizing 80 projects linked to 15 contractors identified by PBBM

Published Nov 12, 2025 06:06 pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. speaks during a press conference at Kalayaan Hall, Malacañang Palace, Manila, on September 15, 2025, announcing retired Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr. as chair of the new Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and confirming appointees including former DPWH chief Rogelio Singson and SGV partner Rossana Fajardo, with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong named as special adviser. Created under Executive Order No. 94, the ICI will immediately begin a fact-finding probe into alleged irregularities in flood-control and other infrastructure projects. The President pledged full cooperation and stressed the commission’s mandate for independent, transparent investigations and recommendations for legal action. (Mark Balmores)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. speaks during a press conference at Kalayaan Hall, Malacañang Palace, Manila, on September 15, 2025, announcing retired Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr. as chair of the new Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and confirming appointees including former DPWH chief Rogelio Singson and SGV partner Rossana Fajardo, with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong named as special adviser. Created under Executive Order No. 94, the ICI will immediately begin a fact-finding probe into alleged irregularities in flood-control and other infrastructure projects. The President pledged full cooperation and stressed the commission’s mandate for independent, transparent investigations and recommendations for legal action. (Mark Balmores)
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is prioritizing at least 80 anomalous projects that are linked to the top 15 contractors that cornered the funding for flood control and other infrastructure in the past few years, an official of the agency said.
No less than President Marcos identified the 15 contractors in a press briefing and this led to the conduct of a thorough investigation and eventually a public outcry for truth and accountability.
Retired police general Rodolfo Azurin, Jr., ICI special adviser, said the 80 projects are among the 421 flood control and other infrastructure projects that were initially identified to be problematic.
“Out of the 421, we are prioritizing the 80 projects involving the 15 contractors mentioned by the President,” said Azurin during the coordination meeting by the ICI with various government agencies like the police and the military at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
Among these firms are construction companies owned by the Discaya couple, the family of former partylist representative Zaldy Co and other businessmen with links to influential and high-ranking government officials.
But Azurin said the ICI will also look into other projects in areas where the flood control and other infrastructure appeared to have failed the intended purpose when the country was hit by weather disturbances in the past weeks.
“We will scrutinize why those things happened despite the fact that the projects were allocated with huge amount,” said Azurin.
Coordination meeting
Aside from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), also present during the meeting were top officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
“The briefing was all about how agencies can help in fast-tracking the investigation. Since this issue became controversial, a lot of government agencies showed interest to help,” said Azurin.
For instance, he said the Bureau of Internal Revenue started filing cases for tax evasion while the Land Transportation Office assisted in establishing the ownership of luxury vehicles identified with the contractors.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the meeting was also aimed at expanding the coverage of the investigation to include as many anomalous infrastructure projects.
“The goal is to coordinate and validate our current list and the purpose is also to expand the coverage because there are a lot of projects that need to be checked across the country,” said Dizon.
“We need to check all these and among those discussed was how these inspection and validation could be done in the fastest way,” he added.
Dizon said there are still a lot of infrastructure projects that need to be checked aside from the 421 that are now being validated by Azurin.
Before Christmas deadline
Earlier, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said they are eyeing the filing of charges this month.
And Dizon said they support the move, “The goal of the Ombudsman is to file this month. There are two cases but the people involved are around 40.”
The 40 people involved the Discaya couple and owners of three more companies.
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