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January 16, 2026 | 4:37pm
MANILA, Philippines — President Bongbong Marcos said the fate of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will depend on how much work remains as it nears the end of its investigation on the anomalous flood control projects.
In an ambush interview on Friday, January 16, Marcos said he believes the independent body he created has already investigated most of those involved and implicated in the anomalous flood control projects.
"Depends on how much work they have left. Kung matapos na ang trabaho nila, we'll see. But they are really coming towards the end. Lahat ng kailangang imbestigahan, naimbestigahan na nila," he said.
(Depends on how much work they have left. If they finish their jobs, we'll see. But they are really coming towards the end. All that they needed to investigate, they have already.)
If the ICI still has information to submit to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Ombudsman, Marcos said he would allow the commission to continue operating.
"But if the work is done, kung naibigay na lahat ng info sa DOJ at sa Ombudsman (if all the information has been turned over to the DOJ and Ombudsman), then the focus now of the investigation will go through the DOJ and the Ombudsman," the president added.
This development follows the resignations of two of the commission’s three commissioners in December, leaving the ICI with Chairperson Andres Reyes Jr., Executive Director Brian Hosaka and Special Adviser Rodolfo Azurin Jr.
ICI needs its commissioners
In response to Marcos’ statements, the ICI said it can act only with the approval of a majority of its members, adding that it currently lacks a quorum after being left with only Reyes as commissioner.
"Consequently, following the resignation of its two commissioners, the Commission is unable to resume its official operations until a quorum is restored," the ICI said in a statement.
As it waits for the president's decision, the body said it will prepare and submit an accomplishment report covering its work from September 11 to Dec. 31, 2025 to the Office of the President for its review.
"In the meantime, the Commission continues to process, organize, document and safeguard all records and evidence in its custody," the ICI added.
ICI achievements. The independent body has so far filed eight referrals with the Office of the Ombudsman over substandard and ghost flood control projects it investigated, leading to the filing of three complaints and the arrest of 16 former Public Works officials and contractors.
It has also carried out joint referrals with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) involving nearly 100 individuals.
On top of this, the body has launched asset recovery efforts with concerned government agencies to reclaim millions to billions of pesos in stolen public funds and to seize luxury vehicles allegedly imported in violation of customs regulations and with unpaid duties and taxes. The Anti-Money Laundering Council has also frozen more than P20 billion in assets linked to the cases.
ICAIC bill more urgent
Rep. Leila de Lima (ML Party-list), who wants the ICI made permanent with stronger powers, said she is disappointed but not surprised that Marcos sees the commission’s work as nearly finished when it only began with the flood control projects.
"Talaga ba? Tambak pa ang trabaho pero ang tingin niya, the ICI is 'really coming towards the end?'" she said in a statement. (Really? There's still much work to do, but he thinks the ICI is really coming towards the end?)
If Marcos is thinking of dissolving the ICI as early as now, she said the executive order should not have included the clause "upon accomplishment of the purposes for which it was created" to determine the independent body's conclusion.
"Mr. President, at this point, the ICI’s fate does not depend on how much work remains, but on how serious your commitment is to holding accountable all those involved in this massive corruption in the country, especially the biggest culprit/s," De Lima said.
The minority lawmaker stressed that Congress' priority should focus on passing the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption (ICAIC) law for a more "empowered, transparent and independent commission."
De Lima said that if the Marcos administration chooses to delay the measure, the president's directive to prioritize its passage would amount to little more than a joke.
"O pati ba 'yung pagiging isa sa mga priority bills nun ay lokohan lang?" she asked. (Or was even making it one of the priority bills just a joke?)
Only top contractor Sarah Discaya and a handful of DPWH officials have been arrested in the flood control investigation, while no high-ranking or elected officials have faced detention, and charges remain sparse.
