Malacañang said on Sunday there has been no move yet to appoint replacements for members who resigned from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), as the government is still weighing a related legislative proposal.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said discussions on possible replacements have been deferred while officials assess a measure that could create a new independent body to address infrastructure-related issues.
Castro explained that the administration wants clarity on the proposed law before making decisions that could be overtaken by structural changes in oversight bodies.
Her statement followed the announcement by Commissioner Rosanna Fajardo that she would step down from the ICI effective December 31, 2025.
Fajardo said she believed she had already fulfilled the objectives she set when she accepted the appointment.
She also expressed the view that responsibility for investigating and prosecuting infrastructure-related irregularities should now rest with institutions such as the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman.
Earlier this month, former Department of Public Works and Highways secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson also resigned from the ICI, citing health and security reasons.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has urged Congress to give priority to the proposed Independent People’s Commission Act.
The bill seeks to establish a permanent, independent and non-partisan commission to investigate alleged corruption in infrastructure projects across national agencies, local government units and government-owned and -controlled corporations.
Castro said the President wants the proposed law to be carefully crafted and passed without creating overlapping jurisdictions with existing bodies such as the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice.