(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said no one, not even members of his family or political allies, will be spared once the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) starts its probe into anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects.
“They will not be spared,” Marcos said in a press conference in Malacañang on Monday.
He added that no one will believe in the government’s efforts to get rid of corruption unless those behind the systemic problem are unmasked and made accountable.
The President’s cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co are among the lawmakers who have been linked to the massive corruption surrounding anomalous and ghost flood control projects.
“There’s only one way to do it. They will not be spared. We do not take sides. We are not biased. No one will believe what we are doing until we actually do it, and so we will,” Marcos said.
He underscored that the government, through the ICI, is determined to pursue accountability.
Fact-finding powers
The President created the fact-finding body, armed with subpoena powers, to investigate irregularities in flood control and related projects within the last 10 years and recommend appropriate charges to the relevant agencies.
Marcos issued Executive Order (EO) 94 on Sept. 11 creating the ICI. It will be headed by former Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Justice Andres Reyes with former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Rogelio Singson and SGV and Co. Country Managing Partner Rossana Fajardo as members.
Former police general and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has been tapped as the panel’s special adviser.
Naming Reyes as chairman of the ICI, Marcos said: “He was a presiding judge of the Court of Appeals before. He has been, for a very, very long time, with a very good record of honesty and fairness, and a good record of being able to find justice for those who have been victimized. What we needed was somebody like Justice Andy Reyes because he is a former justice. He will know how to conduct those hearings, if they are procedurally correct.”
On the other hand, having Singson onboard would give the commission an advantage in conducting its investigation because he knew “where the bodies are buried,” while Fajardo would contribute her decades of forensic accounting experience.
Marcos lauded Magalong’s investigative skills when he was still serving in the Philippine National Police (PNP), particularly as head of the Criminal Investigation and Detective Group (CIDG), and said his insights would be beneficial to the body’s fact-finding mission.
“I’m very encouraged because when I talked to them, all of them were in agreement that we have to move very quickly, and we have to get something done as quickly as possible,” the chief executive said.
Recent revelations about the purported massive and shameless misuse of billions of public funds for flood control projects triggered an uproar from the people and protests from various sectors. More indignation rallies are slated to take place on Sept. 21.
Marcos acknowledged the public’s anger, saying it is justified, and even urged them to hold protests to have their voices heard but in a peaceful manner.
He called on protesters to act rationally and not spark chaos similar to what happened in Nepal and Indonesia, where citizens ignored the rule of law in showing their outrage against their governments.
“You have to remember, I brought this up. And it is my interest that we find a solution to what has become a very egregious problem. And since this has been all exposed… to the general public, do you blame them for going out into the streets? If I wasn’t President, I might be out in the streets with them,” he said.
‘We should all be angry’
“Of course, they are enraged. Of course, they are angry. I am angry. We should all be angry. Because what’s happening is not right. Let them know. Let them know the sentiment. Let them know how they hurt you. How they robbed you. Let them know. Shout. Do everything, demonstrate. Just keep it peaceful. Because when it’s not peaceful anymore, that’s hard. We will have to… the police will have to do their duty to maintain peace and order. But to show that you are enraged, to show that you are angry, to show that you are disappointed, to show that you want justice, to show that you want fairness, there’s nothing wrong with that,” he added.
No refuge
Romualdez on Monday said the House of Representatives is committed to fully cooperating with the ICI.
“I fully support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s statement that no one is exempt from accountability. The House of Representatives has already embraced this principle in our work to uphold transparency and restore public trust,” Romualdez said in a statement on Monday.
“From the very start, I have made it clear: the House will not be a refuge for wrongdoing. Not even its own members will be shielded if wrongdoing is proven. We will ensure that the process is fair, fact-based, and guided by the rule of law,” he said.
The ICI, he said, “is an opportunity to cleanse the system, and the House is committed to cooperating fully.”
“At the same time, our committees have already begun reviewing procurement safeguards and monitoring project implementation to plug loopholes and strengthen oversight,” he said.
The House’s tri-panel infra committee is conducting a flood control probe. The committee is composed of the Committees on Public Accounts, Public Works and Highways, and Good Government and Public Accountability.
“This issue is bigger than personalities. It is about safeguarding the people’s money and ensuring that every bridge, road, and flood control project truly serves the Filipino people,” Romualdez said.
“The House will remain a co-equal partner of the President in building not just infrastructure, but also a Bagong Pilipinas anchored on accountability, honesty, and public trust,” he said.
Permanent commission
Meanwhile, former deputy speaker Erin Tañada called for legislation to institutionalize the newly formed ICI, saying an executive order alone cannot provide a lasting safeguard against corruption.
He was referring to Executive Order 94 signed last week by President Marcos, which created the ICI to investigate corruption in public works projects.
Tañada described EO 94 as “a step forward” but said it falls short of providing a permanent solution to protect infrastructure funds from political manipulation.
Tañada stressed that an executive order is temporary and said Congress must act to make the commission permanent.
“That’s why the Senate and the House of Representatives are waiting for a bill to establish an independent commission created by law. If it’s created by law, the commission would continue to function even after the current investigation is completed.
Labor support
Also on Monday, the labor sector threw its support behind the appointment of Reyes as chairman of the ICI.
“Justice Reyes is a good choice to head the Independent Commission for Infrastructure,” said Federation of Free Workers (FFW) President Sonny Matula.
He said Reyes has an excellent track record and unblemished integrity in the judiciary.
“Corruption in infrastructure projects is not just about stolen funds — it robs workers and communities of jobs, safety and essential public services. With Justice Reyes at the helm, we expect the ICI to pursue the truth with independence, transparency and courage,” Matula said.
The FFW also reiterated its call to recover what was stolen, hold the guilty accountable, and ensure that public funds truly serve the people.
In line with this, the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition (Nagkaisa), of which FFW is a part, invited all citizens to go to the EDSA People Power Monument on Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. to manifest their opposition to corruption and to call on the government not only to penalize the guilty but also to recover stolen public funds and return them to the national treasury.
“I know how difficult the fight against corruption is. It is like fighting a giant with multiple heads,” said Matula. “That’s why we called on the President to appoint a young but dynamic executive director with fire in his belly to head the secretariat of the ICI.”
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) condemned the continuing grand conspiracy of corruption in the government, which is believed to be perpetrated by high officials in the legislative and executive departments.
