PBBM hands off on SALN release concerns, ICI future

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro in a press briefing on February 3, 2026. (Courtesy: PCO)

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is taking a hands off stance on two issues — the future of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure and the protest lodged by the Ombudsman over the slow release of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of lawmakers allegedly involved in anomalous flood control projects.

Mr. Marcos will allow the ICI to decide whether to continue its operations or conclude its mandate, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“The fate of the ICI rests on the decision of the ICI itself,” Palace Press Officer Claire said.

She said the President would base any response on whatever decision the ICI formally makes, including whether it chooses to continue its work, seek additional support from the executive branch, or conclude its mandate.

“Whatever decision the ICI arrives at, that is what the President will respond to. If they need help from the executive, it will be given. But their destiny and next actions are being left to the ICI itself,” Castro added.

Castro said Malacañang has yet to receive a complete report from the ICI on the status of its work, noting only that the tasks handled by former Commissioners Rogelio Singson and Rossana Fajardo were already completed.

As this developed, Castro said Mr. Marcos wants to avoid “executive overreach” following the complaints made by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on the SALN release process of the House of Representatives.

She said Mr. Marcos’ commitment to transparency and accountability does not extend to interfering with the internal rules of Congress, underscoring the importance of respecting the separation of powers.

“The President wants to avoid what you call executive overreach,” the Palace official said.

Castro said the President is mindful that pressing for access to the documents beyond existing procedures could be interpreted as executive overreach.

She said the President is intentionally steering clear of actions that could be viewed as an intrusion into the authority of the legislative branch.

“We have what we call separation of powers, and whatever the rules of the House of Representatives or Congress are regarding this, the President respects them,” Castro said.

Remulla on Monday said he will protest the manner by which the House Secretary General has been giving his team a hard time in getting the SALN of lawmakers being investigated for their alleged involvement in questionable flood control projects.

“I don’t understand the stonewalling. Probably there is a conflict of interest. I am harboring suspicions they are protecting people. Hopefully they stop,” Remulla said.

Remulla said he will write a letter to Speaker Bojie Dy III to protest the additional requirement of plenary approval set by House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil. — Charles Dantes