ICI’s sudden closure shows the waning urgency of the government’s anti-corruption drive

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, A reporter again Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel

THE management may have lost momentum in the anti-flooding campaign, analysts say, as the independent body tasked to investigate irregularities in flood management plans concludes its investigation on March 31.

The “abrupt closure” of the Independent Infrastructure Commission (ICI) may be seen as “unfinished business,” Gary G. Ador Dionisio, dean of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde’s School of Diplomacy and Governance, in a Messenger interview, as there is no sitting law and senior officials of Public Works sent behind.

ICI was established by Executive Order No. 94 in September 2025, as a response to allegations of a multi-billion peso public works scam involving flood mitigation projects.

Originally consisting of Chairman Andres B. Reyes, Jr., and members Rogelio B. Singson and Rossana A. Fajardo, the body was reduced to Mr. Reyes at the end of 2025, which raised questions about its health.

In February, ICI sent a success report to Malacañang, which later became the basis of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s decision. to close on March 31.

Although the confiscation of assets, the freezing of bank accounts, and the arrest of certain individuals may mean that the investigation phase is largely over, Mr. Ador Dionisio flagged “high governance risks” in closing ICI before its expected results are fully delivered.

“The closure of the executive branch of the investigation may create the impression that the effort is losing urgency.”

The lack of “significant success” before its closure could also suggest that ICI’s corruption campaign is “working,” said Joy G. Aceron, director of the transparency group Government Watch.

“If they don’t continue, they will go down and play. Their goal was to control people’s anger. It was not meant to deal with corruption,” he said in a Facebook Messenger interview.

University of Santo Tomas Professor of Politics Eric Daniel C. de Torres added the flood chaos left Filipinos questioning whether the commission’s mission was to pursue accountability or appease the public.

Hansley A. Juliano, who teaches political science at Ateneo de Manila University, said the credibility of the anti-bullying campaign will depend more on the reputation of each official and more on whether the administration pursues accountability in a transparent and policy-driven manner.

“The Ombudsman’s pursuit of the persons of interest and the recovery of the relevant assets can be the key to the achievement of justice, although there will be a clear need to show the accountability of the different parties to all the accused,” he said via Facebook Messenger.

To Mr. Ador Dionisio, the next phase of the ICI should promote changes in infrastructure agreements, procedures and procurement, and the period of arrest of people linked to corruption cases from 2016 until now.

“If the commission’s findings are systematically integrated into prosecution processes, legal reforms, and long-term monitoring mechanisms, closure may signal the completion of a phase rather than the end of accountability,” he said.

“If not, it risks signaling a premature end to anti-corruption efforts, which could undermine broader governance reforms,” ​​he added.

Despite its impending closure, Mr. Marcos ordered both chambers of Congress to expedite action that would institutionalize and strengthen the body through the establishment of the Independent People’s Commission (IPC).

Ms. Aceron said the closure of ICI paved the way for this initiative but noted that IPC will only be sustainable with the participation of the people.

Mr. de Torres, however, questioned the need for the IPC, noting existing laws that have established accountability mechanisms through the Ombudsman and the Citizen’s Charter. He also flagged what appears to be a lack of interest in securing bills that give the commission more teeth as a matter of urgency.

Senate Bill No. 1512, filed by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III last year, proposed an independent body to investigate corruption and irregularities in government public works projects. The IPC will retain powers to subpoena, freeze assets and blacklist contractors to increase transparency and accountability in public spending. A similar proposal was introduced in the House of Representatives.

“I think it will not pass; passing it is a political decision. The way the first phase of the investigation has gone, it is expected that people, offices, and existing systems will be a very deep web-like relationship,” said Mr.

The Philippines, a climate-prone country hit by an average of 20 typhoons every year, has dedicated billions of pesos in its annual budget to plan flood control projects to protect communities and protect the local economy.

However, a series of hurricanes in the middle of last year continued to expose gaps in the nation’s outdated flood control systems.