Singson pleads: Pass bill giving ICI more teeth

A day after announcing his decision to quit the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), former public works chief Rogelio Singson appealed to lawmakers yesterday to pass the measure seeking to strengthen the probe body formed by President Marcos to investigate corruption in flood control projects.

- By EJ MACABABBAD

At a press briefing, Singson also bewailed that ICI's lack of resources is curtailing its powers to fulfill its task of investigating politicians and their private sector cohorts involved in anomalies in flood control projects.

"What we wanted to convey is that ICI, as it is today, does not have enough powers to be able to execute as quickly as we can what we need to do," Singson said.

"That's why I am appealing to members of Congress, both the House and the Senate: pass the (legislation on) IPC or Independent People's Commission at the Senate level and the ICAIC (Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption), which is the lower House version," he said. Singson's resignation takes effect on Dec.15.

He also told "Storycon" on One News that the ICI's P41-million budget "is in the newspapers, not with us."

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima told One News's

“The Big Story” that Singson had been following up on the status of the ICI bill in Congress.

“He told me, ‘We really need more powers because of the sheer volume of cases, matters and referrals we've been getting,’” De Lima said on Wednesday night. “They’re getting impatient already.”

A House panel has already approved the creation of the ICAIC while the Senate has already sponsored a bill establishing the IPC. But neither bill has been certified as urgent by the President.

Both chambers will have their last session day on Dec. 19, after which they will adjourn and resume on Jan. 19, 2026.

Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, for his part, said the resignation Singson underscored the urgent need for the immediate passage of the ICAIC bill.

“While we value Sec. Babes’ expertise, we understand if he wants to prioritize his health, and the safety and well-being of his family,” Tiangco said in a statement.