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)

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/177354742957320251015-ici-headquarters-MT10 (1).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 — Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima and the Akbayan Party condemned the planned closure of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), saying it failed to conduct a serious investigation and to hold those involved in the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal accountable.</p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. created the ICI to look into alleged corruption in infrastructure, but the body has remained recommendatory and has referred its findings to the Office of the Ombudsman for further investigaiton.</p><p>“Sa hinaba-haba ng prusisyon, sa dinami-dami ng pasakalye, sa pagsasara rin ang tuloy,” De Lima said in a statement. </p><p>(After the long procession and so many detours, it all ends in them shutting down)</p><p>“Nilatag pa bilang Independent Commission ‘for Infrastructure’, pero hanggang flood control lang pala ang titingnan — iilan pa nga lang ang naimbestigahan. Wala ring silbi ang ginawang livestreaming,” she added. </p><p>(They presented it as an Independent Commission &#x27;for Infrastructure&#x27; but it was limited to flood control after all and only a few were investigated. The supposed livestreaming was also useless)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ICI WINDING DOWN OPERATIONS</strong></div><p>ICI Chairman Andres Reyes Jr. this week announced that the commission’s operation will cease on <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/13/reyes-recommends-ici-wind-down-its-operations-1244">March 31,</a> saying its mandate has been fulfilled and that its work may be carried forward by other government agencies. </p><p>De Lima said Marcos Jr. is letting the ICI shut down instead of certifying as urgent House Bill 4453, which would create an Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption with more powers than the present panel.</p><p>De Lima authored the bill alongside Reps. Adrian Michael Amatong of Zamboanga Del Norte, Kaka Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands , Percival Cendaña, Chel Diokno, and Dadah Kiram Ismula of Akbayan Party, Edgar Erice of Caloocan, Jaime Fresnedi of Muntinlupa,  Krisel Lagman of Albay, Paolo Marcoleta of Sagip Party-List, Elijah San Fernando of Kamanggagawa Party-List, and Alfonso Umali Jr. of Oriental Mindoro. </p><p>She said the proposed law would create a more independent, more fully equipped and empowered body to take over ICI.</p><p>“Hinding-hindi natin ito dapat tantanan. Kasama ito sa sinisigaw ng taumbayan. Pagalawin nyo ang baso,” De Lima said. </p><p>(We will not let this go. This is part of what the people are calling for. Do something)</p><p>She further said that “the public is just being taken for a ride” and that the administration is “giving false hope” for a serious investigation and accountability from “big fishes.” </p><p>“Hay naku, to say that we&#x27;re disappointed is an understatement. Mahiya naman ang administrasyong ito (This administration should be ashamed),” De Lima said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Akbayan Party underscored that it is troubling that ICI is shutting down “while the principal architects and beneficiaries of the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal remain untouched.”</p><p>It highlighted that ICI only made nine referrals for prosecution covering 65 individuals, despite saying it could implicate more personalities involved in the flood control corruption scheme. </p><p>“For a scandal involving billions of pesos in public funds and infrastructure that was supposed to protect communities from devastating floods, nine referrals simply cannot be the end of the story,” Akbayan Party president Rafaella David stressed. </p><p>David challenged the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice “to deliver where the ICI failed to do so.”</p><p>Ombudsman Crispin Remulla this week said the ICI had turned over at least <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22aOoAVvids&amp;t=19s">200 megaboxes</a> of flood control documents. </p><p>David added that the Marcos Jr. administration “promised big, and yet, delivered so little.” The president, in his last year&#x27;s SONA, blasted corrupt politicians with his line &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/-mahiya-naman-kayo-marcos-order-probe-on-corruption-in-flood-control-projects-1725">mahiya naman kayo</a>.&quot;</p><p>“If the president will not bring to its just conclusion the very anti-corruption campaign it started eight months ago, then he has sealed his fate well before the end of his term,” David said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/12/police-spotted-loading-boxes-from-ici-as-marcos-says-their-tasks-already-fulfilled-1016">Hosaka, trucks carrying documents from ICI arrive at Ombudsman as Marcos says their tasks &#x27;already fulfilled&#x27;</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/SBby9W_8Wys?si=QtH7YWyM68T9boGj" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>ML Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima and the Akbayan Party condemned the planned closure of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), saying it failed to conduct a serious investigation and to hold those involved in the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal accountable.</p>

ML Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima and the Akbayan Party condemned the planned closure of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), saying it failed to conduct a serious investigation and to hold those involved in the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal accountable.

‘Disappointed is an understatement’: De Lima, Akbayan condemn looming ICI shutdown

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‘Disappointed is an understatement’: De Lima, Akbayan condemn looming ICI shutdown

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 15, 2026 02:11 PM PHT

Read More:

Independent Commission for Infrastructure

Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption

Leila De Lima

Akbayan

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