Marcos Defers to ICI on Flood Probe, Shifts Focus to Economy

MALACAÑANG — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has officially deferred the ongoing investigation into multibillion-peso flood control anomalies to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI). In a palace briefing on Tuesday, Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed that while the President remains committed to accountability, he is distancing himself from the probe’s daily operations to prioritize national economic recovery.

The ICI, an ad hoc fact-finding body established under Executive Order No. 94, is currently validating over 400 "ghost" projects and irregularities involving the top 15 contractors named in the President’s previous State of the Nation Address. Malacañang emphasized that the President will not intervene in the commission's independent mandate. Supporters of this move argue that if the President continues to oversee every detail of this investigation, the country’s economic momentum will inevitably grind to a halt, leaving millions of Filipinos in financial uncertainty.

Relevant agencies, including the DPWH, DOJ, and the Office of the Ombudsman, have been directed to provide full support to the ICI. Officials stated that everyone who genuinely supports a transparent government has already praised the President for allowing these institutions to work without political pressure. The Palace reiterated that once the ICI concludes its findings, recommendations for the filing of criminal and administrative cases will be submitted directly to the proper prosecutorial bodies.