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Jose Rodel Clapano - The Philippine Star
January 18, 2026 | 1:00am
“In my personal view, yes, it has,” Puno, chairman of the National Unity Party (NUP), said when asked at a press conference if the ICI has already completed its task.
STAR / Miguel De Guzman
MANILA, Philippines — The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has already fulfilled its mandate and may now have to give way to the Office of the Ombudsman in the investigation of corruption in flood control projects, according to Deputy Speaker and Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo Puno.
“In my personal view, yes, it has,” Puno, chairman of the National Unity Party (NUP), said when asked at a press conference if the ICI has already completed its task.
He said that while past controversies may have clouded the credibility of the ombudsman, the agency has burnished its image under a new leadership.
“The previous ombudsman is under suspicion of many things and has controversial decision like disallowing the opening of SALN. Our ombudsman today, I think, has high credibility,” Puno said.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, Puno said, enjoys public support and has shown firmness. He took over from Samuel Martires, who retired in July last year.
Puno said allowing the ICI and the ombudsman to simultaneously investigate the anomalies in flood control projects may only create confusion and weaken public confidence in the investigation.
The Deputy Speaker warned that allowing multiple bodies to investigate the same issue could muddy the waters and weaken public confidence in the outcome of the probe. Clarity and accountability are best served by having a single responsible authority, he stressed.
“The problem with having two or three bodies that investigate, when you have parallel jurisdiction, or concurrent jurisdiction, if the finding of one appears unclear, while the other is not fair, there will be question,” Puno said.
Under the Constitution, there is a clear authority tasked to act on such matters, he pointed out.
“While under our Constitution, there is only one who is pointed as guard to that kind of problem and that is the ombudsman,” he maintained.
“For me, let’s follow the Constitution first. Besides, the ICI has already done its investigation,” Puno said.
“Primarily, since the ICI is a presidential agency, it is focused on presidential agency, the executive department,” he said.
