Palace: Marcos has yet to decide on ICI’s fate

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February 19, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has read the accomplishment report submitted by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) but has yet to decide on the fate of the probe body.

“It is still being studied until now. The report submitted is a bit thick. But most probably, we can immediately say what will happen, and whether the ICI will continue its work, we will also provide its status,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a press briefing yesterday.

Marcos formed the ICI last September through Executive Order 94 to probe infrastructure projects implemented in the last 10 years.

ICI faced an uncertain fate following the resignation of two of its commissioners – former public works secretary Rogelio Singson and Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co. country managing partner Rossana Fajardo – last December.

The ICI is left with just one member, retired Supreme Court associate justice Andres Reyes Jr., who also serves as its chairman.

Former police chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and lawyer Brian Keith Hosaka still work as the ICI’s special adviser and executive director, respectively, but they are not members of the commission.

In January, the ICI admitted that it is not able to continue its operations until a quorum is restored. Castro previously said the body may communicate directly with the President to enumerate what it needs to perform its role.

The ICI submitted its 125-page report to Marcos’ office on Feb. 6.

Jonvic: Bringing Co back up to DFA

Efforts to bring home former Ako Bicol congressman Zaldy Co rests with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said yesterday.

Remulla made the statement when asked over dzBB radio about an update on efforts by the government to bring Co back to the country.

Remulla earlier said Co is hiding in a posh community in Portugal; he has a Portuguese passport.

Co has a warrant of arrest from the Sandiganbayan in relation to the flood control scandal.

When asked if they have already coordinated with the International Criminal Police Organization or Interpol for the manhunt for Co, Remulla said: “Not yet. We have not entered that yet.”

“Let us wait. Ask the DFA, not us,” Remulla said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said personalities being investigated over their links to anomalous flood control projects may now have to seek permission from a court before leaving the country.

“Based on the information I got, there is now a precautionary hold departure order. So, with that, any permit or any allowance for you to travel, a court process is needed,” acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said yesterday.

He was referring to the precautionary hold departure order issued last week by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 52 against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan and his fellow former DPWH officials Roberto Bernardo, Henry Alcantara and Gerard Opulencia.

Complaints of plunder, violations of Section 3 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and direct bribery and corruption of public officers under the Revised Penal Code against them are being looked into by a DOJ panel.

Moments before the DOJ released the copy of the court order, Bonoan claimed he was allowed to fly to the US to accompany his wife who would undergo medical treatment.

Vida confirmed Bonoan indeed wrote to the DOJ panel handling the complaints against his group, asking to be allowed to travel. – Emmanuel Tupas, Ghio Ong