Senator Rodante Marcoleta made a surprise appearance on Sunday evening, becoming the first incumbent public official to take the stage at the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s “Rally for Transparency and Better Democracy” at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

During his remarks, Marcoleta criticized the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), alleging that the investigative body is not truly “independent.”

“Tinatanong ko po kung paano naging independent ang ginawa nilang ito samantalang sila po ay humihingi ng tulong sa House of Representatives, humihingi ng information sa Senado, sa Sandiganbayan at sa korte at sa mga opisina ng ating pamahalaan,” he said.

He also pointed out that the ICI has not made its proceedings public despite calls for transparency.

Marcoleta cited as an example the appearance of former Speaker Martin Romualdez before the ICI in October.

“Talagang gusto [nila] na hindi natin makita ang katotoohanan. Ililihis, isisinsay ang katotohanan. Papayag po ba kayo sa ganitong patakaran?” he said.

Marcoleta has repeatedly questioned the ICI’s work since September and October, insisting that the investigating body should not rely on the findings of other institutions such as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

The ICI was created as an independent body tasked with investigating alleged anomalous flood control projects and with the mandate to recommend the filing of charges before appropriate government offices and courts.