The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) officially closed its doors on Tuesday, ending its investigation into alleged anomalies in the country’s flood control projects.
For half a year, the commission dug deep—following paper trails, reviewing records, and asking tough questions. Now, their work has been handed off… and their mission, at least for them, is complete.
A quiet ending to a heavy task
Before the shutdown, the Bureau of Customs conducted an inventory of 12 luxury vehicles seized from former Congressman Zaldy Co. These vehicles are now set to be transferred from the ICI to the bureau.
But the day wasn’t just about paperwork and handovers.
There was also a farewell gathering… a moment to pause, reflect, and say goodbye.
Among those present were former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and auditor Rosanna Fajardo—two key figures in the commission’s journey.
“We’ve done what we had to do.”
For Singson, the closure felt inevitable.
“The ICI is really redundant,” he said plainly, echoing the earlier position of the Ombudsman.
He didn’t dwell on it.
Instead, he spoke with quiet finality:
“We’ve done what we have to do… and all the documents are already with the Ombudsman. That’s it.”
Fajardo, when asked if the commission fulfilled its role, didn’t need words.
A simple thumbs up… said everything.
A sense of purpose… and gratitude
ICI Chairperson, retired Justice Andres Reyes Jr., looked back with calm pride.
“We’re happy that we have served the country,” he said.
“In the little span of time that was given to us… we thank God for that.”
There was no claim of perfection—only a sense of duty fulfilled.
Box after box of documents—evidence, reports, findings—have now been turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman.
And Reyes believes the fight doesn’t end here.
“Talking to Ombudsman Remulla, he will continue the fight against corruption,” Reyes shared.
“We have done our part… and the Ombudsman can do this even better than us.”
But not everyone is convinced
For Batangas lawmaker Leandro Leviste, the ending felt… too soon.
“The ICI is prematurely being cut short today,” he said.
He raised a question that still lingers—
Why hasn’t the final report been released?
“If most of its contents are already in the public domain… why not make it public?” he asked.
Leviste made it clear—he showed up hoping for answers.
But left with more questions.
Government: The work continues
Malacañang, however, defended the commission.
Press Secretary Claire Castro emphasized that the ICI did not waste time.
“They did not sleep, rest, or relax,” she said.
“They submitted many reports to the DOJ and the Ombudsman.”
Now, the responsibility shifts.
Everything the ICI uncovered—every recommendation, every possible case—rests in the hands of the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman.
What happens next?
The DOJ confirmed it is now reviewing the documents.
But when it comes to the final report… they drew a line.
“That is something we will refer to the ICI to disclose,” said Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida.
And not everything can be made public.
“We need to sift through the report,” he explained.
“Some parts are sensitive… especially those related to case build-up.”
So here we are.
The ICI has stepped away.
The investigation, however… is far from over.
What they started now lies in the hands of others.
And for the public—
the wait continues.
