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Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro holds a news conference with reporters in Malacañang on April 6, 2026. (Courtesy: PCO)
Malacañang on Monday said the public release of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) final report will depend on the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman as pressure mounts from lawmakers for full transparency.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Palace will not intervene in the handling or disclosure of the report, noting it has already been turned over to the proper investigative authorities.
“That’s already within their (DOJ, Ombudsman) discretion,” Castro said during a press briefing when asked if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would endorse making the report public.
She said the Ombudsman, as an independent constitutional body, cannot be directed by the President, while decisions on what information may be released by the DOJ also fall under its discretion.
Castro’s statement follows Senator Imee Marcos’ call for the full release of the ICI report, saying transparency is needed to address long-standing issues in flood control and infrastructure projects.
Castro, however, pushed back against the criticism, saying calls for accountability should not be selective.
“If someone is truly against corruption, I hope they’ll be consistent in their criticism and in calling it out— not only during President Marcos Jr.’s term, but also in the previous administrations,” she said.
She noted that alleged irregularities, including so-called “ghost projects,” date back to as early as 2020, but said it was only in 2025 that the current administration initiated a formal investigation.
Last week, Castro said the DOJ and the Ombudsman are “overwhelmed” by the volume of cases referred by the ICI, clarifying that the panel’s role was limited to fact-finding.
“The ICI is only a fact-finding committee. The filing of cases rests with the Ombudsman and DOJ,” Castro said in a radio interview.
She noted that the commission has already submitted its findings to proper authorities, including referrals involving dozens of individuals linked to questionable infrastructure projects.
During its six-month investigation, the ICI endorsed cases implicating at least 65 individuals, including lawmakers and contractors.
Castro said the volume of referrals has placed pressure on investigating bodies, which are now conducting preliminary investigations.
“Because of the sheer volume of referrals, the Ombudsman and DOJ appear to be overwhelmed,” she said.
— Charles Dantes
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