Malacañang asserted that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) was not formed to shield the President's allies from the investigation of the massive flood control scandal.

It was neither made to cover up for anyone, nor was it only for a show, Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Tuesday, Jan. 20, responding to several remarks made by lawmakers, following President Marcos' pronouncement that the ICI is nearing the completion of its investigation into the flood control anomalies.

"Papaano po masasabing palabas lamang ang ICI? Ang ICI, ang mga miyembro po nito ay nagtatrabaho, malamang ay hindi na halos nakakatulog at that time dahil puno at overwhelmed sila sa mga dokumento at mga ebidensiyang natatanggap nila (How can it be said that the ICI is merely for show? The ICI and its members are working; they are likely barely getting any sleep at that time because they are swamped and overwhelmed with the documents and evidence they are receiving)," Castro said, defending the ICI.

The Palace official expressed that "it is saddening that there are people like this who fail to see the good that the government is doing," adding that "all they see are negativity, they fabricate stories, and they invent baseless narratives just to discredit the government.”

"At patungkol naman po, binanggit na natin, pag-shield – hindi po ito para mag-cover up ninuman. Dahil ang Pangulo, sinabi na ng makailang beses, uulit-ulitin ko po, walang sinasanto. Kaalyado, kamag-anak, kaibigan, kung kinakailangang maimbestigahan, imbestigahan, iyan po ang utos ng Pangulo (And with regard to the issue of shielding, as we have already mentioned, this is not meant to cover up for anyone. The President has said this many times, and I will repeat it: no one is spared. Allies, relatives, friends—if they need to be investigated, then they will be investigated, that is the President’s directive)," Castro said.

Castro also stressed that among the proposed measures labeled by the President as priority was the Independent People's Commission which would look further into widespread corruption in government infrastructure projects.

She reiterated that the ICI functions as a fact-finding body that serves only as an initial step to allow the investigation into the broader issue of anomalous flood control projects to move forward.

The Palace official pointed out that the ICI having only one remaining commissioner will not affect the investigation.

"Kahit sabihin po natin na nag-iisa lamang si Justice (Andy) Reyes, sinabi po nating kumpleto na po malamang ang mga ebidensiya, at magri-report naman po sila sa Pangulo (Even if we say that Justice Reyes is working alone, we said that the evidence is probably already complete, and they will report to the President)," Castro said.

"So ang tanong natin, titingnan po ng Pangulo kung kinakailangan pang mag-appoint ng panibagong miyembro ng ICI (So the question is, the President will see if it is necessary to appoint a new member of the ICI)," Castro added.

The Palace Press Officer emphasized that even if the ICI is approaching its conclusion once their work is really finished, there is still the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ) which are also investigating the corruption.

"So, hindi po masasabi na nawawalan ng pag-asa ang taumbayan para siyasatin ang mga ganitong klaseng anomalya. Mayroon pa pong dalawang investigative bodies, nandiyan pa rin po ang ibang law enforcement agencies na magtutulung-tulong para po maimbestigahan ito (So it cannot be said that the public will be left without hope to investigate these kinds of anomalies. There are still two investigative bodies, and other law enforcement agencies are still there to work together to ensure this is investigated)," she said.