A few days ago, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., announced that the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) will cease operations on March 31, 2026. Despite its intended role in fighting corruption, it lasted only 6 months, leaving much unfinished business.
Does this short life mean the commission failed in its goal of combating DPWH corruption? When it was formed in September 2025, the public supported the move, hoping investigations would accelerate. The ICI's outputs clearly fell short of expectations. Four cases, that's all. About one case every 1.5 months. Undoubtedly, an anemic and snail-paced accomplishment. Was it ever meant to succeed, anyway?
In this light, it is worth asking: how many DPWH officials were investigated by the ICI and then prosecuted by the Ombudsman?
Secretary Vince Dizon himself has been stating that this Department reeks of corruption throughout its hierarchy of officials. And yet only a handful have been charged over the last six months. The much-advertised prosecution of the big fish did not happen. It is always announced that many officials will be prosecuted soon. That soon is getting to be - never.
It is evident that the clamor for the prosecution of corrupt officials has been overtaken by the impeachment process. With no ICI officials investigating, the DPWH officials who committed corruption are expectedly happy that the corruption they perpetrated will no longer face any legal action. No charges will be filed after all. They waited for things to cool down, and, as expected, they are at it again.
The web of corruption is so pervasive that the Ombudsman has little to show for its efforts to untangle it. Additionally, Ombudsman Crispin Remulla endorsed the closure of the ICI as an institution. He obviously did not favor having more people help his office prosecute more officials. That is really surprising. It was as if he did not want more officials prosecuted, especially at this time.
Perhaps the wisdom of the philosophy that created it remains, but that is it. It was like an illusion that was only good while corruption was the hot issue. The bubble burst. The movement for change lacked the balls to carry it out.
Today, national attention has shifted to other pressing issues: rising fuel prices and the impeachment process against the Vice President. Despite this, the underlying problem of corruption—and the inaction that enables it—remains relevant.
We must consider how these issues—corruption, impeachment, and economic challenges—are interconnected, influencing each other and shaping the current political climate. For example, it will be political suicide to prosecute the politicians who will decide on the impeachment case of the Vice-President. ,
We have to analyze the investigator's death in the context of political events in this country. Pamumulitika lang ba yon? Looks like it.
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