Malacañang on Sunday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s warning of a “sad Christmas” for those linked to the flood control controversy remains in effect despite the Independent Commission for Infrastructure now having only one member.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the ICI will continue to exist for now following the resignation of Commissioner Rossana Fajardo effective December 31.
Castro said public expectations for swift and visible punishments should be tempered, arguing that accountability efforts are unfolding through formal processes rather than dramatic actions.
“The President’s promise that many will not have a merry Christmas,” Castro said, adding that the statement did not specify immediate arrests of lawmakers or officials.
She urged patience, saying investigations and case-building require time and must observe due process.
“The President’s term is not over yet,” Castro said, noting that recovered funds, frozen assets, and filed cases are part of ongoing efforts.
She added that several individuals connected to the controversy are already facing charges from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, while others are reportedly in hiding or have had their passports canceled.
Castro said such developments are often overlooked amid public focus on perceived shortcomings of the administration’s response.
With Fajardo’s departure, ICI Chairperson and former Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr. remains the sole commissioner after Rogelio Singson earlier stepped down.
Castro denied that the reduced membership signals a retreat, saying the ICI’s role was to initiate document gathering and identify accountability.
She said Malacañang is holding off on appointing replacements while awaiting legislation that would formally establish an independent commission without overlapping mandates.