Marcos still wants ICI to continue mandate, says Palace

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. still wants the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to continue its job even though two of its officials have resigned from their posts, Malacañang said Tuesday. 

During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro was asked for comment on the statement of ICI special adviser Rodolfo Azurin Jr. that they are planning to send a formal letter to the Office of the President for clarification and guidance as to what will happen to the body.

''Sa ngayon wala pong anumang ipinag-uutos pa ang Pangulo kung hindi ipagpatuloy pa rin ang kanilang mandato, ipagpatuloy pa rin ang kanilang pag-iimbestiga at maging fact finding committee pa rin po sila,'' Castro said. 

(There's no other directive than to continue their mandate, continue the investigation, and continue their job as a fact-finding committee.) 

''So, kung sila po ay susulat sa Pangulo, hintayin po natin ang kanilang panawagan sa Pangulo para po masagot naman ito ng Pangulo,'' she added. 

(If they will write to the President, let's just wait for their appeal to the President so he can respond to them.) 

Castro said the President wants to have a law that will create an independent commission, which will look into infrastructure projects.

The President earlier urged the Congress to prioritize the passage of the proposed Independent People’s Commission (IPC) Act. Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said the bill may be approved in the Senate by February,

The measure aims to establish a permanent, independent, and non-partisan commission that would investigate alleged anomalies and corruption in infrastructure projects at the national, local government unit, and government-owned and -controlled corporation levels.

Commissioners Rossana Fajardo and Rogelio ''Babes'' Singson both resigned from the ICI. According to Castro, there is no information yet if Fajardo and Singson would be replaced. 

Since its creation, chairperson Andres Reyes Jr. said the ICI has already filed eight referrals and cases with the Ombudsman, excluding joint referrals with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). —AOL, GMA Integrated News