Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) might last only a month or two. However, ICI Chair Andres Reyes Jr. countered that the commission is set for two years of operation. The controversy stems from recent statements about the commission's powers and future.
On December 10, 2025, during a press briefing, Andres Reyes Jr., chair of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), said they would work diligently until the end of their mandate. “We will work very hard until whatever is the date of our existence,” he stated. “I think we’re good for two years.” This counters Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla’s December 5 remark that the ICI’s days are numbered and its work would soon transfer to his office. Remulla told GMA’s Unang Balita, “That’s the direction where it’s headed, because the ICI isn’t meant to last forever, and there is a law that created the Office of the Ombudsman, which we are now very active in.”
The ICI, established by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on September 11, 2025, under Executive Order 94, probes allegations of multi-billion-peso corruption in flood control and other infrastructure projects. It submits referrals to the Ombudsman, which handles fact-finding, preliminary investigations, and court filings.
Malacañang neither confirmed nor denied the ICI’s shutdown. Undersecretary Claire Castro said it hasn’t been discussed, but acknowledged it as a possibility given the Ombudsman’s activity. On December 9, Marcos urged Congress to pass the Independent People’s Commission Act to create a stronger anti-corruption body.
The debate follows commissioner Rogelio “Babes” Singson’s resignation, citing the commission’s limited powers. The ICI has faced criticism for poor transparency, though it has started livestreaming hearings, with many sessions going private. Since inception, it has sent at least eight recommendations to the Ombudsman, one contributing to a Sandiganbayan case.
Currently, the ICI is overwhelmed with 94 boxes of documents on flood control projects, including 48 boxes from the Philippine National Police on December 9, covering sites like Masinloc, Zambales, and others. Affidavits from Surigao del Norte citizens detail unfinished projects, such as the P294-million Anao-aon Bridge.
