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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Investigate the President, ICI urged

Investigate the President, ICI urged

Published Nov 26, 2025 01:04 pm

At A Glance

  • Makabayan lawmakers on Wednesday, Nov. 26, formally asked the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate President Marcos' alleged involvement in the anomalous flood control projects following supposedly corroborative statements made by former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
Makabayan lawmakers on Wednesday, Nov. 26, formally asked the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate President Marcos' alleged involvement in the anomalous flood control projects following supposedly corroborative statements made by former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co and Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago signed and submitted a letter addressed to ICI chairman retired Supreme Court (SC) associate justice Andres Reyes Jr. wherein they sought the body's probe into the President's and other individuals' alleged involvement "in the systematic corruption of public funds".
The lawmakers believed that the President had a hand in the controversy, as they noted the corroborative testimonies made by Co in a video posted on his Facebook page and by Bernardo in his affidavit before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Co's Facebook video messages were neither verified nor even made under oath, while Bernardo's affidavit did not directly implicate President Marcos in the controversy.
The militant lawmakers said Co's allegation that the President "personally ordered" project insertions worth P100 billion in the 2025 national budget and Bernardo's accusation that former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin "signified to 'take care [of]' the facilitation of the P52 billion out of the P100 billion insertions" should be reason enough for the ICI look into the matter.
Rep. Co said that although Co's revelations were not made under oath, the commission still had the power to voluntarily investigate such claims.
"May kapangyarihan ang ICI na motu proprio, kung anuman ang mga alegasyon or naumang discussion na nangyayari tungkol sa katiwalian and infrastructure, kayang kaya nyang imbestigasyon on its own (The ICI has the power to investigate, motu proprio, any allegations or discussions concerning corruption and infrastructure projects)," Rep. Co said.
"Walang nagpipigil sa kanila (Nothing is stopping the ICI) by itself to look at the claims of Zaldy Co," she added.
And if Co's remarks weren't enough to prompt ICI to investigate the President, Tinio said Bernardo's supposed testimony that was relayed by Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson ought to be considered.
"Mabilis ang mga developments, at ang (The developments are coming out fast, and the) latest development, may mga bagong ibinunyag si usec Bernardo (usec Bernardo made new revelations), at least according to Sen. Ping Lacson," Tinio said.
Lacson, who also chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that is investigating the anomalies, has recently disclosed that Bernardo submitted yet another affidavit implicating Malacañang in the flood control projects mess.
Lacson cited an affidavit made by Bernardo, who said he met with former Department of Education (DepEd) undersecretary Trygve Olaivar in 2024 to discuss unprogrammed appropriations allegedly intended for the Office of the Executive Secretary.
Bersamin allegedly indicated his willingness to "take care" of the P52 billion out of the P100 billion in budget insertions--something that the former Palace official denied.
"May bago siyang mga ibinunyag, at ngayon mas mabigat, dahil Malacañang na and no less than the President, according to Bernardo, sa paniniwala niya, inutos ng Presidente kaya siya sumunod at kaya siya nag-insert (He has made new and more serious revelations, claiming that Malacañang and the President himself ordered the insertion. According to Bernardo, he believed its was the President's directice, that's why he made the insertion)," Tinio said.
"Hindi naman, you know, Usec Bernardo obviously was not born yesterday. Hindi naman basta basta mauuto lang 'yan... para mag-insert ng mga ganon at magbayad ng malaking kickback unless kumbinsido sya na galing ito sa pinakamataas (Usec Bernardo was obviously not born yesterday and he would not be easily fooled into inserting such provisions and giving large kickbacks, unless he was convinced it came from the highest level)," he argued.
Aside from Marcos, Makabayan members also wanted the following individuals to be investigated: Co, Bernardo, Bersamin, Olaivar, former Budget secretary Amenah Pangandaman, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan, former Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos, former DPWH Bulacan 1st district Engineer Henry Alcantara, former Department of Justice (DOJ)  undersecretary Jose Cadiz, Jr., "and other persons who may have relevant information regarding these allegations".
The Makabayan noted that it had been more than 100 days since the investigations into flood control corruption began, and yet "zero corrupt politicians have been jailed".
"Worse, the Filipino people are now witnessing what appears to be a massive cover-up operation designed to shield high-ranking officials from accountability in this corruption scandal," they said.
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