Former Senate President Franklin Drilon said the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) can no longer function and is effectively “dead” due to what he described as inaction by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
In a radio interview, Drilon pointed out that only ICI chairman, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr., remains after the resignation of the commission’s members.
He said this leaves the body incapable of performing its mandate and should prompt its abolition.
“Dahil di sila nag-aappoint ng kapalit. So talagang ang intention ay buwagin yung ICI,” Drilon said.
“Sa akin wala nang silbi yang ICI na yan because of the inaction on the part of the President,” he added.
The latest to resign was Commissioner Rossana Fajardo on December 26, following the earlier departure of former Public Works Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson just 11 days before. Drilon said the situation goes beyond being a lame-duck body.
“It’s a dead body. It cannot function,” Drilon said.
“I cannot understand how they function when it’s just Justice Reyes,” he added.
On the investigation into alleged anomalies in flood control projects, Drilon said jurisdiction lies with the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Commission on Audit (COA), noting that the ICI is merely a recommendatory body.
Drilon also maintained that the ICI may be abolished even without the passage of the Independent People’s Commission Act.