Members of the Makabayan bloc strongly criticized President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s claim that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is close to completing its work on the flood control controversy.
In a joint statement, ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Partylist Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Partylist Rep. Renee Co declared, “Mula sa simula, palabas lang ang ICI. Hanggang sa dulo, palabas pa rin. This commission was never meant to genuinely investigate the massive corruption in infrastructure projects—it was designed to create the illusion of accountability while protecting those truly responsible for plundering billions of pesos from the Filipino people.”
The lawmakers argued that the ICI has been unable to function since two of its three commissioners resigned, leaving it without quorum. They questioned how a “defunct body” could claim to have finished investigating systemic corruption.
They dismissed the commission’s reported accomplishments—three cases filed, 16 arrests, and ₱20 billion in frozen assets—as “token achievements” compared to the billions allegedly lost to corruption in infrastructure projects.
The bloc further charged that the administration never intended to probe the real masterminds, saying, “Ang totoo dito: ayaw talagang imbestigahan ng administrasyong ito ang tunay na mga pasimuno ng korupsyon sa infrastructure, Marcos included. The ICI was created to deflect public outrage, not to pursue real accountability.”
Makabayan concluded that the commission served only as a public relations exercise, stressing, “The Filipino people deserve better than this charade. They deserve genuine investigations that hold the powerful accountable, not toothless commissions designed to protect the corrupt elite. Mula simula hanggang wakas, puro palabas lang ang ICI—at kasabwat sa palabas na ito ang administrasyong Marcos.”