(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. named two members of the independent commission that will investigate corruption in public infrastructure projects but held off on announcing the chairman of the three-person panel.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President appointed former Public Works secretary Rogelio Singson and certified public accountant Rossana Fajardo as members of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who has been outspoken about official corruption, was named special adviser and would also act as an “investigator for the ICI.”
Magalong’s office issued a brief statement saying the mayor would accept the “responsibility with the same values he upholds in Baguio: accountability, transparency, and integrity in governance.”
Castro said the investigation would be conducted immediately, following the appointment of “individuals of proven competence, integrity, and deep familiarity with infrastructure, finance and institutional reform.”
“Not one of them is connected to any agency or contractor being investigated,” Castro said during a press briefing.
“No one will be spared here, not even relatives, friends, allies. There will be no sacred cows. The investigation will commence immediately,” she said.
The members of the ICI were named amid growing unrest over the trillions of pesos allegedly pocketed by government officials and contractors from flood control projects throughout the years.
“The president… supports the grievances of our people because this is a fight against corruption,” Castro said.
She added that the president will always respect freedom of expression.
“Whatever sentiments our fellow citizens are feeling right now, the President respects them,” Castro said.
But Castro urged the public to be vigilant, warning them not to allow their legitimate grievances to be exploited by “destabilizers of the government.”
Meanwhile, Castro said the alleged links of former Public Works secretary Manuel Bonoan to a Bulacan contractor would be investigated.
She said the president had been briefed on the recent developments involving the Bonoan.
Former DPWH secretary
As former secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Cabinet of President Benigno Aquino III from 2010 to 2016, Singson led one of the most significant reform efforts in the agency’s history, introducing systems to promote transparency, eliminate ghost projects, and ensure the proper use of public funds, Castro said.
She said Singson also served as head of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, where he managed large-scale land and infrastructure development.
“Mr. Singson brings decades of direct experience in both the planning and execution of major government infrastructure projects,” Castro said.
“His technical understanding of how projects are designed, procured, and implemented will be essential to this commission’s work,” she added.
SGV managing partner
Fajardo, on the other hand, currently serves as country managing partner of SGV & Co., the Philippines’ largest professional services firm.
Castro said Fajardo has more than three decades of experience in auditing, internal controls, and risk management, especially in identifying weaknesses in financial systems and operational processes.
“She has worked across both public and private sectors to help organizations detect fraud, strengthen governance, and build more accountable institutions,” Castro said.
“Her technical insight and financial acumen are critical in following the trail of public funds and determining where leakages and irregularities may have occurred,” she added.
Castro said Magalong’s new designation was crucial in uncovering the truth behind the anomalous flood projects.
“He handled sensitive, high-impact investigations and helped lead institutional reforms in law enforcement through intelligence-driven forensic-based approaches,” Castro said.
“As mayor of Baguio City, he has continued to apply his strict standards of transparency, and accountability in local governments. His experience in leading difficult investigations, uncovering internal wrongdoing, and enforcing compliance makes him a strong asset to this commission,” she added.
Castro clarified that Magalong was not a member of the three-person panel but would provide technical assistance to strengthen its investigation.
The Palace official also responded to concerns raised by lawmakers about the mayor, who had a lot to say about corruption even before the ICI was formed.
She urged the public to give Magalong the chance to prove his contribution to the probe.
“Whatever he may gather through his efforts, he may submit directly to the ICI,” Castro said.
Castro said the President has yet to pick the chairman of the commission and would announce it “in the coming days.”
While there was strong public demand for immediate accountability, the Palace official said the ICI has no fixed deadline.
“It would be ideal to finish within a few months, but given the volume of records, we must give the ICI time to study everything,” she said.
Castro also said that none of the appointees, who chose to take part in the commission voluntarily, are connected to agencies or contractors under investigation.
“They voluntarily accepted this task. They were not appointed to defend the system but to confront it,” she said.
Asked if the ICI would intervene in DPWH operations, Castro said the body would not interfere with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon’s ongoing internal reorganization, including his call for courtesy resignations from officials.
Implementation of ongoing flood control projects would continue unless Dizon recommends otherwise, she added.
Established through Executive Order (EO) 94, the three-member ICI is mandated to hear, investigate, and gather evidence on anomalies, misuse of funds, and possible corruption in the planning, financing, and implementation of government projects, with priority on flood control work undertaken in the past 10 years.
The commission is empowered to issue subpoenas, compel the production of documents, recommend criminal, civil, and administrative cases before the Department of Justice, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Civil Service Commission, and coordinate with other government agencies.
It may also recommend asset freezes, hold departure orders, and preventive suspensions to preserve the integrity of investigations.
Meanwhile, Castro said Marcos respected the public’s call for accountability amid growing unrest and protests, particularly one set for Sept. 21.
“The president will always respect this freedom of expression,” Castro assured the public.
“Our only prayer is that this sentiment not be exploited by others with the indend to destabilize the government,” she added.
‘Two boats’
The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) welcomed the appointment of Singson and Fajardo but expressed reservations about Magalong.
In a statement on Saturday, FFW said Magalong cannot be in “two boats,” as the Constitution said “no elective official shall be eligible for appointment or designation to any public office or position during his tenure, unless otherwise allowed by law or if such is ex officio in nature.”
“There is no doubt about the integrity of Mayor Magalong, as he is steadfast and well-known for his public service,” the labor group said.
“But no matter how good the intention, the Constitution is clear: you can’t ride two boats at the same time. If you’re a mayor, then you’re just a mayor. If you’re an investigator, then you’re just an investigator,” they said.
FFW called on the mayor to resign as the mayor of Baguio City, should he wish to accept his role into the ICI.
“Serving as Baguio’s mayor and at the same time acting as ICI investigator are incompatible offices… If [Magalong] accepts the call of the President, the honorable thing to do is to resign as mayor, so that everything is clear, with no conflict of interest and no complications,” they said.
WITH ARIC JOHN SY CUA
