Marilyn Cahatol

Facade of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) headquarters in Taguig City Photo taken on October 15, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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/176518897133320251015-ici-headquarters-MT10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Facade of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) headquarters in Taguig City Photo taken on October 15, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Facade of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) headquarters in Taguig City Photo taken on October 15, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — ML Party List Representative Leila de Lima and Akbayan Party List Representative Percival Cendaña questioned on Monday the sincerity of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s administration in going after officials behind the alleged flood control anomalies, as the bills seeking to strengthen the independent body investigating it have yet to be certified as urgent.</p><p>At the House of Representatives, the bill has yet to reach the plenary, two weeks before Congress goes on break.</p><p>“Hindi po maiwasan na magduda talaga sa sincerity nila. Lalu na ‘yung sa ICAIC (Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption), hindi ko po maintindihan kung bakit all of a sudden, ganoon ang sasabihin.&quot;</p><p>De Lima cited Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla&#x27;s earlier statement that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) may have one to two months left before it turns over the work to the Office of the Ombudsman.</p><p>&quot;And then ‘yung latest pronouncement din ng spokesperson… ni Attorney Claire Castro, not keen na daw… ang palasyo on the ICAIC bill kasi magiging duplication lang daw ng mga trabaho ng relevant agencies like Ombudsman and DOJ,” De Lima said.</p><p>“So bakit ganon? Bakit biglang cold na sila sa panukala na ‘yan? Akala ko ba in-announce na rin ‘yan mismo ng Speaker, na ipa-prioritize ‘yung ICAIC bill. And then, bakit biglang ganoon na ini-stall nila ‘yung panukalang batas na ‘yan? ‘Di ba nakakaduda na rin yan? Hindi ba kailangan talaga ng tulong ng ICI na merong mas malakas, mas independent, mas transparent na komisyon?” she added.</p><p>“‘Yung mga hakahaka, na hindi kaya kasi ayaw nila na makarating ‘yung mga ebidensya doon sa mga mas matataas, kaysa doon sa mga nai-forward na ng ICI sa ombudsman? Mga tanong po yan na hindi maiwasan,” De Lima noted.</p><p>The lawmaker added the bills &quot;will help the administration show its seriousness in going after all those involved in the corruption scandal.&quot;</p><p>“Hindi pwedeng ganito ang opinapakita nila na all of a sudden pumi-preno sila. Hindi po magandang tignnan yan,” she said.</p><p>Cendaña, meanwhile, reiterated the call to enact the ICAIC bill. </p><p>“The President should have saved people&#x27;s time and effort kung pakitang tao lang pala ang gagawin niya. He only gave people a reason to doubt and scoff at his sincerity in fighting corruption,” he said.</p><p>“Mas lalo nating dapat ipasa ang ICAIC Bill to ensure that this anti-corruption campaign is not tied down by and is independent of political interests, especially that from Malacañang,” Cendaña added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/5/malaca-ang-says-ici-not-underfunded-with-p41-m-budget-1317">Malacañang says ICI not underfunded with P41-M budget</a></div><p>De Lima said the bill has been pending with the House Committee on Appropriations since November 14, and finds unacceptable the House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Adiong’s statement that the said panel is prioritizing the proposed 2026 national budget.</p><p>“Hindi ho katanggap-tanggap eh. Pwede naman pong gawin yan eh. Pwede naman pong isinasalang na sa plenary after the Appro. Kasi yung sa Appro, November 14 pa. So that means three weeks ago. So bakit hindi naggawa na pinasalang kaagad  sa plenary? If there’s a will, there’s a way. Bakit ganoong katagal sa Appro?” De Lima said</p><p>“During those times, wala na sa House ‘yung budget, ang hinihintay na lang yung sa Senado bago mag-bicam. E ngayon tuloy, nandyan na yung bicam... And then they&#x27;re going to use the bicam as the new excuse for not working on the ICAIC bill na isa lang sa plenary? So hindi po katanggap-tanggap yan,” she added.</p><p>“Nakatengga! So, kakalampagin ko po ulit sila, kung kakayanin through a privilege speech o kaya parliamentary inquiry ulit... We need answers. Bakit tumatagal?” De Lima noted.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/4/singson-says-ici-went-to-war-without-necessary-ammunition-1326">Singson says ICI was ‘asked to go to war without necessary ammunition’</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tlyxPcJV9bM?si=yLDHlT6jrwFGTybK" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Lawmakers questioned on Monday the sincerity of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration in going after officials behind the alleged flood control anomalies, as the bills seeking to strengthen the independent body investigating it have yet to be certified as urgent.</p>

Lawmakers questioned on Monday the sincerity of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration in going after officials behind the alleged flood control anomalies, as the bills seeking to strengthen the independent body investigating it have yet to be certified as urgent.

Lawmakers question Marcos admin's vow to go after corrupt officials as bill strengthening ICI still not certified urgent

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Lawmakers question Marcos admin's vow to go after corrupt officials as bill strengthening ICI still not certified urgent

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 08, 2025 06:31 PM PHT

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