MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday said it would leave it to the Office of the Ombudsman to act on the findings of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) regarding alleged large-scale corruption in the government’s flood control projects.
This includes portions of the ICI report that purportedly clear former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of involvement in anomalous flood control projects worth billions of pesos.
At a press conference, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said the results of the fact-finding body’s investigation have already been submitted to the Ombudsman for appropriate action.
“Regarding the ICI recommendation, it has already been submitted to the Ombudsman. We will just let the Ombudsman reveal it out of respect,” she said in Filipino.
“And if the ICI is also asked, it would be better for the commission itself to present its recommendations,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Palace Press Officer clarified that the ICI’s P41 million operational budget remains valid until the end of the year and may still be used for necessary expenses, including activities related to the panel’s wrap-up.
The ICI earlier announced that its operations will officially end on March 31.
Any unused funds will be returned to the National Treasury as part of the unappropriated surplus of the general fund, Castro noted.
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