ICI set to end operations on March 31

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will only be operational until March 31, ICI chairperson Andres Reyes Jr. said.

In a statement Friday, Reyes said the ICI already fulfilled its mandate of investigating the alleged anomalous flood control projects. 

Reyes said that while the ICI only functioned as a collegial body for 90 days, it was able to submit nine referrals covering 65 individuals to the Ombudsman, as well as convened Techinical Working Group including 20 agencies for Asset Recovery. 

Likewise, Reyes said the ICI developed three information systems designed to detect fraud and other irregularities in infrastructure projects.

"With these frameworks and systems now in place, I believe that the Commission has fulfilled its mandate under Executive Order No. 94, and that the work initiated by the ICI is now properly situated to be carried forward by the agencies established by law," he said. 

"Thus, I hereby recommend that the ICI wind down its operations. The Commission will remain operational until March 31, 2026 to complete the necessary administrative processes related to its wind down," he added. 

President Marcos created the ICI through Executive Order No. 94 in September last year as a non-partisan fact-finding body tasked to investigate alleged irregularities in flood control and other infrastructure projects over the past 10 years.

Reyes, however, is its lone member to this day.

Ex-ICI commissioner Rogelio “Babes” Singson resigned in December 2025 citing health and security concerns, while ICI commissioner Rossana Fajardo stepped down after completing the work she set out to accomplish.

On March 11 this year,  Marcos said that the ICI's work is nearly done.

Reyes, however, maintained that the ICI has established the investigative framework and methodology that can be adopted and replicated by statutory prosecutorial agencies in "examining the full universe of anomalous infrastructure projects." 

"While these represent only the initial phase of a much broader investigative and restitution effort, these accomplishments demonstrate that, with strong inter-agency coordination, proper investigations can be conducted which could ultimately lead to the successful prosecution of those responsible and the recovery of stolen public funds," he said.

"I likewise urge government institutions involved in the implementation and oversight of infrastructure projects to act on the Commission's recommendations for their respective offices to improve transparency, strengthen controls, enhance coordination, reinforce accountability, and prevent the recurrence of infrastructure-related irregularities," he added. —AOL, GMA Integrated News