ICI derided as a ‘paper tiger’

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was urged to call Congress into a special session to expedite the passage of a bill that seeks to strengthen the Malacañang-created Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which an opposition lawmaker described as a mere “paper tiger.”

House Deputy Minority Leader Edgar Erice issued the call on Sunday following reports that contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya are withdrawing their cooperation with the fact-finding body.

He said the move could set a dangerous precedent for others under investigation in the flood control probe to evade scrutiny.

Erice warned that the Discayas’ noncooperation would restrict the ICI’s access to key records, including those related to government projects, undermining the credibility of the investigation and delaying justice.

“We have seen how ICI severely lacks in power, and we need to expedite this,” Erice said in Filipino during an interview, referring to House Bill 4453. “It’s like a paper tiger because first off, it’s not really independent. The President […] can abolish it anytime.”

He added, “They also have no rules on the public disclosure of their activities. ICI has many shortcomings, and it might turn out that this was merely created to pacify the public’s anger.”

Proponents of the bill argue that the ICI, created by Marcos through Executive Order 94, is powerless and could become inutile unless established through an act of Congress.

Erice said the ICI’s lack of contempt and expanded subpoena powers to compel key individuals and entities to cooperate with the investigation justifies the need for a special session.

Article VI, Section 15 of the Constitution grants the President the power to call a special session of Congress, which is currently on a month-long recess.

Senate President Tito Sotto, however, countered that a special session is unnecessary since Congress could still conduct hearings during the break.

“There might not be a quorum [because] some are abroad for the Inter-Parliamentary Union,” Sotto said in an interview.

Erice disagreed, arguing that holding hearings without legislative action would only delay the bill’s passage. He suggested that Congress could devote three days to deliberating on the measure.

If enacted, HB 4453 would establish an Independent Commission Against Infrastructure, an autonomous body empowered to prosecute and cite individuals in contempt for defying lawful orders.

Sotto filed a counterpart bill in the Senate, calling it an Independent People’s Commission. Both measures aim to strengthen Executive Order 94 by transforming it into a permanent law.

Unlike the executive order, which depends solely on the discretion of the President, a commission created by law cannot be dissolved easily and would enjoy genuine independence, Erice said.

Speaker Bojie Dy has reportedly expressed support for the House bill and pledged to convince Marcos to certify it as urgent.

However, opposition lawmakers voiced disappointment after Congress adjourned last week without the measure advancing beyond the committee level. The ICI has also faced criticism for conducting closed-door hearings.

Members of the minority have pressed for live coverage, saying that a body tasked with investigating major infrastructure anomalies must operate transparently to dispel suspicions of a possible cover-up or whitewash.