Manila: Malaca±ang on Thursday said the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) continues to operate and fulfill its mandate, amid concerns over the use of public funds. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is awaiting the ICI's report before making any decision on its future.

According to Philippines News Agency, Castro clarified that the ICI remains fully operational while completing its work, adding that a deadline has been set for the submission of the report. "I believe the ICI is still operating. The ICI is still complying with its mandate," she said. She also rejected claims that taxpayers' money is being wasted due to the continued operations of the fact-finding body.

Castro stressed that ICI continues to review and investigate documents related to anomalous infrastructure projects. "So there is no money spent na (that) we can say it's just wasted. The people in the ICI are still working and investigating the documents given to them," she said. She said the commission's mandate remains in effect, noting that several documents remain under its custody.

'Mayroon pa po sila in-imbestigahan dahil marami pa pong dokumentong na iwan sa kanila. So patuloy pa rin ang pagi-imbestiga nila (They are still investigating because there are still many documents left with them. So their investigation continues),' Castro said. ICI, created through Executive Order (EO) 94 issued in September 2025, is mandated to investigate anomalous infrastructure projects implemented in the past 10 years.

As of Dec. 26, 2025, the commission has filed eight referrals with the Office of the Ombudsman, excluding joint referrals with the DPWH involving nearly 100 individuals. The referrals have so far resulted in the filing of three cases by the Ombudsman and the arrest of 16 individuals.