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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider No new order yet from Marcos on ICI but to stay as fact-finding body, Palace says

No new order yet from Marcos on ICI but to stay as fact-finding body, Palace says

Published Jan 13, 2026 03:49 pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. holds a press conference at the Malacañan Palace on Sept. 15, 2025 to announce the chair of the newly-created Independent Commission for Infrastructure. (Mark Balmores)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. holds a press conference at the Malacañan Palace on Sept. 15, 2025 to announce the chair of the newly-created Independent Commission for Infrastructure. (Mark Balmores)
Malacañang said President Marcos has no other instruction about the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), but to carry on with the investigation on the anomalous flood control projects.
This, amid growing concerns over its possible abolition, considering that it only has one remaining commissioner.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, however, said that there is no word yet from the President in relation to the ICI's fate.
"Sa ngayon wala pong anumang pinag-uutos pa ang Pangulo kung hindi ipagpatuloy pa rin ang kanilang mandato, ipagpatuloy pa rin ang kanilang pag-iimbestiga at maging fact finding committee pa rin po sila (For now, the President has not issued any new instructions other than to continue carrying out their mandate, to continue their investigation, and to remain a fact-finding committee)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Jan. 13.
"So, kung sila po ay susulat sa Pangulo, hintayin po natin ang kanilang panawagan sa Pangulo para po masagot naman ito ng Pangulo (So, if they will write to the President, let us wait for their appeal so that the President can respond to it)," Castro added.
Special adviser Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said they will have to formally write to the President to get clear guidance on the fate of ICI, citing that their employees must also need to be informed so they can prepare.
When asked if Marcos intends to replace the two commissioners who resigned from the ICI, Castro said they have not received any notice yet.
"Wala pong nakakarating sa akin on my part, on my end, wala pa po sa ating ipinaparating na anumang update kung magkakaroon po ng replacement (I have not received anything so far, on my end, no update has been conveyed to us on whether there will be a replacement)," Castro said.
The ICI was created by Marcos last year to investigate alleged anomalies in public works, particularly ghost or substandard flood control projects worth billions of pesos.
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