Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong has called for the abolition of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), saying the body can no longer function following mass resignations and the lack of clear executive backing.
Magalong, who resigned in September as a special adviser to the ICI, said the commission has been effectively paralyzed, with insufficient members and authority to fulfill its mandate of investigating corruption in flood control and major public works projects.
“The intention was good, but a commission cannot work if it no longer has members and support,” Magalong said. “At this point, it is no longer viable.”
His statement came after former Senate President Franklin Drilon criticized the ICI, describing it as a “dead body” after most of its commissioners stepped down, leaving only former Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr. as its remaining official.
“It’s not only a lame duck, it has ceased to exist,” Drilon said. “It’s a dead body, it cannot function.”
Several senior officials have resigned from the ICI over the past year, including former Public Works Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson and Commissioner Rossana Fajardo, further weakening the commission.
Magalong said dissolving the ICI and reinforcing existing government institutions would be a more effective approach to ensuring accountability.
“Anti-corruption efforts should be anchored on strong, permanent institutions,” he said. “Otherwise, public trust suffers.”