ICI with no commissioners? Palace sees no hindrance in making referrals

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) can still function even with only the chairperson sans its two commissioners, Malacañang said Wednesday.

At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked about the statement of ICI special adviser Rodolfo Azurin Jr. that the body was not able to make any referrals regarding flood control anomalies due to lack of commissioners.

''Even if the ICI only [has] one member, and that's the Chairman... Chairman [Andres] Reyes, he could still recommend the filing of the case,'' Castro said.

''So kung sila man ay sinasabi ninyo na mas maganda kung mas marami, mas maganda po talaga. 'Yan naman po ay kinikilala natin na kung mas maraming tao, mas maraming maaaring mga opisyal na mag-iimbestiga o mag-aaral ng mga kaso, mas maganda po,'' she added.

(If you're saying that it's better if there are other members of the body, it would really be better. We acknowledge that since if there are a lot of members, more officials can investigate and study the cases.)

Castro expressed belief that the ICI still has the power and authority to recommend cases even if it lacks commissioners, saying that with enough pieces of evidence, chairman Andres Reyes Jr. can still recommend the filing of charges against certain individuals.

''Sa ngayon po sa aking pagkakatingin ay hindi naman po puwedeng hindi sila... or wala silang kakayanan na magrekomenda ng kaso na maaaring maimbestigahan. Kahit sino nga po ay pwedeng magbigay ng anumang rekomendasyon sa Ombudsman,'' she said.

(From what I understand, it doesn't mean they can't recommend a case before the Ombudsman with only the chairman.)

''So kung kanila'y recommendatory function, to recommend the filing of the case to the Ombudsman, kahit po nagiisa ang isang Justice Reyes, kung ito naman po ay may sapat na ebidensya, hindi naman ito makakahadlang para sila po ay magrekomenda ng pagsasampa ng kaso,'' she added.

(Even if it's only Justice Reyes, if there's enough evidence, this will not impede the recommendation of the filing of cases.)

Asked if the Palace sees no need to replace former Commissioners Rogelio “Babes” Singson and Rossana Fajardo, Castro said she could not say yet if the two already have replacements.

''Nasa Pangulo po kasi yan, hindi po natin masasabi kung may replacement na but as of now, hindi po hadlang na isa lang po at si Chairman Reyes lang po ang nasa ICI,'' she said.

(It's up to the President, we can't say if there's already a replacement but as of now, it's not an obstacle that it's only Chairman Reyes at the ICI.)

''Hindi po siya hadlang para makapagsampa o makapagrekomenda rather ng kaso sa Ombudsman o sa DOJ,'' she added.

(It's not an obstacle to file or recommend charges before the Ombudsman or the DOJ.)

Singson resigned for health and security reasons in December 2025. For her part, Fajardo said she has completed the work she set out to accomplish.

Despite the resignations, Azurin said the commission would continue to do its job.

Malacañang has said that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. still wants the ICI to continue its job despite the resignations. 

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