News illustration of Rossana Fajardo signing her ICI resignation, leaving three commissioners amid flood project probes.
News illustration of Rossana Fajardo signing her ICI resignation, leaving three commissioners amid flood project probes.
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Rossana Fajardo resigns from ICI, leaving three members

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Rossana Fajardo has resigned as commissioner of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), effective December 31, 2025, leaving only three officials in the body. This follows the departure of former secretary Rogelio Singson and other members. The ICI will continue preparing final reports for the Ombudsman on irregular flood control projects.

Rossana Fajardo, former country managing partner at SGV & Co., announced her resignation from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on December 26, 2025, effective December 31. In her statement, she said she had completed the tasks set for her, including developing strategies for investigations and recommendations to improve procurement and budgeting in infrastructure projects. She believes investigative and prosecutorial duties should now shift to agencies like the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman, which are better equipped to ensure accountability for contractors and government officials.

This follows the departure of former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson on December 15, 2025, due to intense stress and family security concerns. It marks the third resignation in just over three months since the ICI's creation in September 2025, after Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong stepped down as special adviser.

ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes Jr. described Fajardo's exit as occurring at a 'natural point' in the commission's time-bound mandate to gather evidence and propose corrective measures on anomalous flood control projects. Since its formation, the ICI has filed eight referrals and cases with the Ombudsman, involving nearly 100 individuals including senators, congressmen, contractors, and officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Commission on Audit. Three cases have reached the courts, leading to the arrest of 16 people, including Sarah Discaya. The commission has also frozen over P20.3 billion in assets in coordination with the Anti-Money Laundering Council, covering 6,538 bank accounts, 367 insurance policies, 255 motor vehicles, 178 real properties, and more.

The remaining officials—Reyes, Special Adviser Rodolfo Azurin Jr., and Executive Director Brian Keith Hosaka—will focus on finalizing submissions to bolster ongoing cases. Mamamayang Liberal Representative Leila de Lima commented, 'This can very well be the end of ICI,' amid calls for the creation of the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption.

O que as pessoas estão dizendo

Discussions on X primarily consist of news reports on Rossana Fajardo's resignation from the ICI, effective December 31, 2025, leaving the commission with three members. Opposition figures, including Rep. Leila de Lima and Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña, expressed skepticism, calling the ICI flawed, a 'lost cause,' or 'bibingo' (finished), and urged passage of the ICAIC bill. The Makabayan bloc criticized its lack of transparency and credibility. ICI Chair Andres Reyes stated the commission remains committed to finalizing reports for the Ombudsman. Some users questioned the body's effectiveness amid ongoing flood control probes.

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ICI recommends charges against senators in flood control scandal

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The Independent Commission for Infrastructure has recommended criminal and administrative complaints against Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, former Representative Zaldy Co, and three others over alleged kickbacks in flood control projects. Related probes include a forged affidavit by a Senate witness linked to Co and efforts to forfeit implicated assets. Lawmakers are pushing for a stronger anti-corruption body amid public frustration with the inquiry's pace.

Rogelio Singson, amid ongoing debates over the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI)'s lifespan and powers, confirmed his resignation effective December 15, citing health strain from probing a massive infrastructure corruption scandal. He denied any pressure and highlighted the commission's logistical limitations.

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Following recent resignations, including Commissioner Rossana Fajardo's effective December 31, the Office of the Ombudsman is ready to take over the Independent Commission for Infrastructure's (ICI) tasks, particularly the flood control scandal probe. This aligns with earlier signals of the ICI winding down.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to hand over all evidence from their probe into anomalous flood control projects to the Ombudsman. This accompanies the agencies' recommendation to file plunder, graft, and bribery charges against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and former congressman Zaldy Co. The Ombudsman's decision will be based on evidence from contracts and testimonies.

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Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno stated that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has fulfilled its mandate and should now hand over the investigation into corruption in flood control projects to the Office of the Ombudsman. He warned that simultaneous probes by multiple bodies could create confusion and erode public confidence. Puno praised the new leadership of the Ombudsman under Jesus Crispin Remulla for restoring credibility.

A recent Pulse Asia survey shows that 52 percent of Filipinos support the immediate passage of a law creating a fully empowered body to investigate alleged corruption in infrastructure projects. This proposed Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption (ICAIC) would replace the current Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) established by President Marcos via executive order. The poll indicates strong backing in Metro Manila and the Visayas, though support is lower in Mindanao.

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Lord Allan Merced-Garcia filed a plunder complaint with the Ombudsman on October 30, 2025, against the Espina family of Biliran over alleged theft in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects. Roving Premier, owned by Vice Governor Roselyn Espina-Paras and her husband, secured over P1 billion in contracts since 2020. This ties into the broader flood control corruption scandal exposed by President Marcos Jr. in July 2025.

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