Jamaine Punzalan

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson answers questions, September 27, 2018. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176482574278220180927-gensan-road-hearing-JC-4904.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson answers questions, September 27, 2018. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Former public works secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson reiterated Thursday his call for additional powers and assistance for the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which he said was “asked to go to war without the necessary ammunition.”</p><p>Singson, who resigned from the ICI effective Dec. 15, called on Congress to pass bills that would give legal ammunition to the panel investigating flood control anomalies.</p><p>“We cannot rely on just one entity like ICI to solve the problem. It cannot be only one institution. We need several entities to help out, especially Congress,” Singson said.</p><p>“We have done our part, we have deliberated with them, line by line… para yung inputs namin are taken up. So we’re saying it’s your turn guys to pass that bill. Otherwise, don’t expect too much.”</p><p>He added that some ICI staff members remained “on volunteer basis” and have yet to receive salary for their three-month work so far.</p><p>“We were asked to go to war without the necessary ammunition,” Singson said.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/12/independent-people-s-commission-bill-sponsored-in-senate-plenary-2128">Bill creating Independent People’s Commission sponsored in Senate plenary</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/14/house-panel-oks-bill-to-strengthen-independent-body-investigating-flood-control-anomalies-1952">House panel OKs bill to strengthen independent body investigating flood control anomalies</a></div><div><iframe width="1440" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AoqciWEVxXw" title="Singson nagsalita na matapos magbitiw sa ICI; komisyon wala umanong kapangyarihan | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RESIGNATION</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Singson, 77, maintained that health woes prompted his resignation from the ICI and rejected insinuations of supposed interference from Malacanang. </p><p>“I myself have not talked to anyone in the Palace. I have not talked to the president about the ICI work… As I keep saying to everyone, we will go where the evidence leads us,” Singson told ANC.</p><p>“Nobody pressured me to leave and I’m not under the gun to leave or because there are certain things that I want to do that I cannot do — that’s not true,” he added.</p><p>Singson shared that he had just visited the hospital earlier in the day and was prescribed medication for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and uric acid.</p><p>“Everything is a red flag,” he said of his medical test results.</p><p>“I’ve never had maintenance medication until I stepped into ICI,” he added.</p><p>Singson noted that his ICI work had required him to review numerous documents and do legal research.  </p><p>Asked about his possible replacement, Singson said it would be “best to have a lawyer, CPA (certified public accountant) with a track record in prosecution.”  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/4/after-ici-exit-singson-wants-to-devote-time-helping-dpwh-dizon-1056">After ICI exit, Singson wants to devote time helping DPWH: Dizon</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>ICAIC BILL</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, ML party-list Repr. Leila De Lima questioned why the bill seeking to strengthen the ICI has yet to reach the House plenary, even when the Speaker declared it a priority.</p><p>Last November 13, the substitute bill that proposes the creation of an Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption hurdled the House Committee on Government Reorganization. Under the measure, the ICAIC will have the power to issue subpoenas, hold departure orders, order preventive suspension, and cite individuals in contempt.</p><p>Three weeks later, the bill has yet to reach the House plenary. Congress has two weeks left before it goes on Christmas break. </p><p>“Kumakalampag na po kami, both sa House leadership, and also kay Pangulo. Nasaan na po? Bakit po hindi pa in-schedule for plenary? We have barely five session days remaining. May sapat pa bang panahon?” De Lima asked.</p><p>“The only way na talagang mapabilis yan… I certify as urgent by the President but we have not heard him talk about it. What is happening? Kaya hindi maiwasan ‘yung mga haka-haka. Lalo na ‘yung ito ngang recent na nakakadismaya na considered really a big blow to this whole thing, ‘yung resignation of Secretary Babes Singson from ICI,” she added. </p><p>House Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson Terry Ridon is hopeful that the ICAIC bill will be taken up at the House plenary next week. He said it will just have to go through the House Committee on Appropriations.</p><p>House Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza also gave this assurance on the ICAIC bill.</p><p>“We have the commitment of the leadership of the House na matapos ‘yan and will be delivered to the people,” he said.</p><p>Last November 12, the counterpart bill has been sponsored before the Senate plenary.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>A SETBACK, BUT NOT DEAD</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>For Ridon, Singson’s resignation is a “setback” to the work of the ICI, but he does not believe that the commission is dead.</p><p>“To the comment that the ICI is practically dead, I don’t think so. Pwede pa rin naman magtuloy ang trabaho ng ICI. They have done good work in the last couple of months,” Ridon said.</p><p>“It’s a setback to the work of the ICI. Pero moving forward, the President should be able to appoint a replacement for Secretary Singson with the same technical expertise firstly, and secondly, with the same integrity,” he added.</p><p>Two lawmakers from the House majority also believe the work of the ICI will continue despite Singson’s resignation.</p><p>“He must have his reasons. And that is part of democracy. We trust and we also hope as we work on the institutionalization of the ICI, as of now, because there&#x27;s a directive from the President, so we move ahead, and try to pass &#x27;yung bigyan natin ng ngipin &#x27;yung ICI,” Mendoza said.</p><p>“Tuloy-tuloy naman po, at may Ombudsman naman tayo. At katunayan , nakikita naman natin na ang ating Pangulo ay pursigido na talagang panagutin ang may mga sala. Kaya tulungan natin ang ating gobyerno,” House Deputy Majority Leader Jose “Bong” Teves Jr. added.</p><div><iframe width="1023" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AL1QK5BGzoI" title="Dateline Philippines | ANC (4 December 2025)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Former public works secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson reiterated Thursday his call for additional powers and assistance for the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which he said was “asked to go to war without the necessary ammunition.”</p>

Former public works secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson reiterated Thursday his call for additional powers and assistance for the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which he said was “asked to go to war without the necessary ammunition.”

Singson says ICI was ‘asked to go to war without necessary ammunition’

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Singson says ICI was ‘asked to go to war without necessary ammunition’

Jamaine Punzalan,

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 04, 2025 01:26 PM PHT

|

Updated Dec 04, 2025 02:31 PM PHT

Read More:

Rogelio Singson

corruption

flood control

baha

ICI

independent flood control probe

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