Castro: No update yet on ICI’s fate

With only one man standing, will the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) keep its mission to fulfill its mandate or be gone soon?

For Malacañang Palace, there is no update yet on the next steps for the ICI, even with Chairperson and former Supreme Court associate justice Andres Reyes Jr. being the only person left in the independent body.

On Saturday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro challenged those who claim the ICI will soon be dissolved to show proof.

“On our part, we have not received any update yet on whether ICI will be dissolved because the investigation is ongoing and their work is ongoing,” she said.

“Whoever is making the accusation, if they have the correct facts or data, they should prove it to the media,” she added.

Castro pointed out that the ICI serves as a fact-finding body solely for infrastructure projects, which then submits evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice and recommends case filings.

In December, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla hinted that the ICI is done with its work and may operate until February.

The independent body reacted and assured the public that it will still carry out its mandate to investigate anomalous flood control projects.

Last week, Senator Imee Marcos claimed that the ICI would be formally dissolved in February, more than four months since it was established.

ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka explained that there is a “sunset clause” in the EO forming the ICI, but that its existence would continue until it has fulfilled its purpose.