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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Is this the end? Minority solons share bleak outlook for ICI

Is this the end? Minority solons share bleak outlook for ICI

Published Dec 26, 2025 11:21 am  |  Updated Dec 26, 2025 05:32 pm

At A Glance

  • Members of the House minority bloc shared on Friday morning, Dec. 26 their bleak outlook for Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) following the back-to-back resignations of its commissioners Rogelio "Babes" Singson and Rossana Fajardo.
From left to right: ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña (Facebook)
From left to right: ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña (Facebook)


Members of the House minority bloc shared on Friday morning, Dec. 26 their bleak outlook for Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) following the back-to-back resignations of its commissioners Rogelio "Babes" Singson and Rossana Fajardo.
"This can very well be the end of ICI. Dapat kasi meron nang ICAIC by now (There should have been an ICAIC by now)," Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said on X after news broke that Fajardo had tendered her courtesy resignation as ICI commissioner effective Dec. 31.
Commissioner Singson formally resigned only last Dec. 15.
"With the resignation of Sec. Babes Singson, followed by that of Commissioner Rossana Fajardo, ICI might as well close shop," De Lima said in a subsequent statement.
"For how can it further function as a one-member Commission? Ang nakakadismaya, ang dami pang dapat gawin ng ICI (It's disheartening because the ICI still has a lot of tasks to do)," she added.
In his own X post Friday, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña wrote: "Bat imbis na ulo ng mga korap, puro resignations ang binibigay sa atin ng ICI? 2 out of 3 down! Bibingo na ang ICI! ????????"
(Why is the ICI offering us resignations instead of the heads of the corrupt? 2 out of 3 down! ICI is nearing bingo!)
"The fact that both Comm. Fajardo and Sec. Babes Singson resigned while supporting the ICAIC Bill is testament to a commission flawed at its core," Cendaña added.
Unless something else happens, Chairman Andres Reyes Jr. will be the lone ICI commissioner at the turn of the year.
The ICAIC stands for the proposed Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption. It is envisioned as the "upgraded" ICI, one that actually has subpoena powers and can compel individuals to appear in its hearings.
In a statement, the militant Makabayan bloc described the as "a lost cause".
"Its members have resigned, it has no real transparency, and its credibility always in question. It was created to make it appear Marcos was serious about investigating corruption," said the bloc composed of ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co.
"Three months since its creation, it has unraveled and has exposed the empty anti corruption rhetoric of the Marcos regime," they said.
The militant solons went on to call out ICI for its alleged selectiveness when in its investigation.
"We have not heard from the ICI regarding our request to investigate Marcos and his resigned officials for the issue of corruption. ICI appears selective and has no interest in going up the highest levels of government to uncover corruption," it said.
"We also do not know the status of our request for investigation into the Davao flood control projects. Rep [Paolo] Duterte did not accept the ICI’s invitation. It’s proof that the ICI cannot really do so much in uncovering corruption if resource persons refuse to cooperate," said Makabayan.
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