Malacañang on Saturday hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte for questioning the formation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), hinting that she may be uneasy about the findings of the ongoing probe into alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
In a statement, Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said it was “unfortunate” that public officials like Duterte would choose to cast doubt on the ICI’s integrity instead of supporting the administration’s efforts to ensure accountability and transparency.
“Ang tanong: May kinatatakutan ba siyang mabunyag sa ginagawang pag-iimbestiga kaya pilit niyang sinisiraan ng integridad ng ICI?” Castro said.
Her remarks came after Duterte questioned the need for the commission, claiming that the Office of the President (OP) could have handled the investigation internally. She also suggested that the OP’s confidential funds could have been used to address flood control concerns without forming a separate body.
Castro, however, argued that such statements only weaken the government’s initiatives to curb corruption, saying Duterte’s remarks reflect misplaced criticism rather than constructive engagement.
“Kaawa-awa ang taong naturingang public servant, puro haka-haka lang ang sinasabi para makapanira sa gobyerno,” she said.
“Ano ba ang alam ng Bise Presidente sa pag-present ng mga tunay na ebidensya at hindi mga peke at gawa-gawa lang? Ang mga tahi-tahi nyang kwento ay walang halaga. Hindi na dapat intindihan pa,” she added.
Castro went on to defend the members of the ICI, emphasizing that none of them are politicians and that they are respected professionals known for their integrity and expertise in their respective fields.
She reiterated that the ICI was established to conduct a transparent and independent investigation into public infrastructure projects, ensuring that the government’s flood control initiatives are free from corruption and inefficiency.