ICI Probe: Smokescreen for Alleged Romualdez-Co Kickbacks?

Former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez Sr. appears at ICI on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

ICI Probe: Smokescreen for Alleged Romualdez-Co Kickbacks?

By Bing Jabadan – TheNationWeek.Com | October 15, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – Is the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) a genuine effort to combat corruption within the Marcos Jr. administration, or a carefully orchestrated performance designed to appease public outrage?

Critics are questioning the commission’s effectiveness and transparency, suggesting it’s a “moro-moro” (sham) investigation shielding powerful figures implicated in widespread government corruption.

Despite numerous congressional hearings and the establishment of the ICI itself, no high-ranking officials have been held accountable for the rampant corruption plaguing the government.

This inaction fuels suspicions that the commission is deliberately protecting those at the top, while the public grows increasingly impatient and desperate for justice amid deepening poverty exacerbated by pervasive corruption.

Adding to the skepticism, the ICI’s newly appointed special advisor, Rodolfo Azurin Jr., is calling for unity instead of protests, even as the commission fails to produce tangible results.

This plea is seen as an attempt to stifle legitimate grievances while silencing demands for accountability.

The ICI defends its “bottom-to-top” investigative approach, claiming this is why no government officials have been implicated.

However, critics argue the strategy is a deliberate tactic to protect the architects of corruption – those who crafted, passed, and benefited from the allegedly corrupt budget at the heart of the problem.

The call is growing to prioritize investigations into President Marcos himself, along with Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Zaldy Co, whose involvement is increasingly apparent.

Lawmakers complicit in this alleged massive plunder should also be investigated and held accountable, critics say.

Compounding the frustration, the ICI is accused of concealing investigations into flood control projects, denying transparency to the public allegedly being robbed.

This lack of transparency fuels suspicions of a “lutong-Makoy” (pre-determined outcome) scenario where justice is sacrificed for political expediency.

Critics are asking if these are “ghost hearings” mirroring the infamous “ghost projects” of the past.

The ICI has reportedly asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against a long list of individuals, including:

• Former House Speaker, Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez Sr.  
• Senators Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero and Jose “Jinggoy” Ejercito Estrada  
• Former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.  
• Makati Mayor Maria Lourdes Binay Angeles  
• Commissioner Mario Lipana and Marilou Laurio-Lipana, Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, Carlene Villa, Maynard Ngu  
• Reps. Roman Romulo, James Ang, Patrick Michael Vargas, Juan Carlos Atayde, Nicanor Briones, Marcelino Teodoro, Florida Robes, Eleandro Jesus Madrona, Benjamin Agarao  
• Former congressman Florencio Gabriel Noel, Reps. Leody Tarriela and Reynante Arogancia, former congressman Marvin Rillo  
• Reps. Teodorico Haresco Jr., Antonieta Eudela, Dean Assistio, and Marivic Co-Pilar  
• Department of Public Works and Highways District Engineers Loida Busa, “Bogs” Magalong, Ramon Devanadera, Johnny Protesta Jr., and Arturo Gonzales Jr.  

However, given the ICI’s limited powers, restricted to conducting investigations without the authority to prosecute, no kleptocrats have yet been charged.

As victims of recent earthquakes in Visayas and Mindanao plead for assistance to rebuild their lives, public faith in the ICI’s ability to deliver justice is waning.

With little faith in the ICI to deliver justice, the call is for intensified and amplified protests.

Azurin’s call for unity is misplaced; in the face of these sham investigations, public action remains the only viable path to accountability.