Palace: ICI report likely out in February

Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the controversial report of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) may be released this month, but did not give a definite date.

“Malamang po itong buwan po ng Pebrero ay malalaman na po natin, sa ating pagkakaalam. Pero hindi ko po sinasabi na ito na mismo po ang magiging hudyat kung ano ang magiging desisyon ng Pangulo, sa akin lamang pong pagkakaalam, most probably by February ay mayroon na po,” Castro said in a Palace briefing on Friday.

On 6 February, the ICI submitted to Malacañang its 125-day accomplishment report covering the period from 15 September 2026 to 18 January 2026.

Castro said the report is almost 1,000 pages long, and the President cannot immediately issue a reaction or judgment.

“At kailangan pong aralin, busisiing mabuti, hindi po kasi ito basta parang nobela lamang na babasahin at magkakaroon na agad ng reaksiyon. So, kailangan pong araling mabuti para po maging reasonable at tama ang magiging desisyon po ng Pangulo,” she said, adding that she will share the results with the media once available.

The ICI said it submitted nine referrals for prosecution or further investigation to the Ombudsman covering 64 individuals, and coordinated the referral of “another set of 66 individuals to the Department of Justice (DOJ).”

In a television interview on Thursday, ICI chair and retired Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr. said the commission could have done more if it had additional members. He added that it will continue investigating and referring cases related to the flood control scandal and corruption, if allowed to do so.

“Wala naman po kasing nagiging gap sa pagtatrabaho. Patuloy pa rin pong nagtatrabaho ang ICI. Nakapagbigay nga po sila ng report at nagtatrabaho rin po, ayon din po sa Omdusman, sila rin po ay nagpapatuloy sa kanilang pag-iimbestiga. Tandaan po natin, marami na po kasing naisumite ang ICI sa Ombudsman at sa DOJ, so iyon po nga dapat ang dapat nating hintayin kung ano po ang magiging resulta, kung may maisasampa pang mga kaso,” Castro said in reaction to Reyes’ pronouncement.