VP Sara Duterte made this accusation against the ICI
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) was allegedly created to legitimize the story the government wants to tell about corruption, Vice President Sara Duterte said.
VP Sara said this in a press conference on Saturday, October 18, during her visit to Manaoag, Pangasinan. The ICI was created through Executive Order No. 94. President Bongbong Marcos issued this EO on September 11, 2025.
Unlike the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on the anomalous flood control projects that was televised, the investigation initiated by the ICI was not publicly released.
VP Sara said that she wondered why there was a need to form a commission to investigate infrastructure projects, as she pointed out that the Office of the President itself was able to do the case buildup.
“Hindi ko po alam kung bakit meron pang investigation ang ICI kasi napakadali lang naman ‘yun eh. Ilang bilyon ang confidential funds ng Office of the President. Sila-sila lang sa loob ng kanilang opisina, magagawa nila na mag-case buildup gamit ang resources ng Office of the President. At i-file nila ‘yun diretso sa Ombudsman o kung saan man na korte,” the Vice President said.
She further explained that it seems that ICI’s goal is to turn the investigation into an official story, especially since the public does not know exactly what is being discussed within the commission.
For her, the official report of the ICI could just be the “official kwento” about the corruption that happened.
The Vice President also pointed out that the Filipino citizens could not dispute the story or the result that the commission will present to the public.
“That way, ikaw na mamamayan, hindi mo na ma-dispute, hindi mo na makontra ‘yung results dahil sasabihin niya, ‘Hindi legitimate ‘yan. Naggawa ako ng komisyon, nag-imbestiga ang komisyon, merong lumabas na commission report’… Nile-legitimize nila ‘yung kwento na gusto nilang lumabas,” the Vice President said.
ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka previously said that the commission avoids “trial by publicity” and its use for political agendas, which is why their hearings are not livestreamed.
As of this writing, the administration, as well as the ICI, hasn’t yet released a statement to answer the accusation from VP Sara Duterte.