BUSAN, South Korea — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. isn’t sweating the Supreme Court petition questioning his newly created Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI). In fact, he saw it coming.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an international summit, Marcos shrugged off the constitutional challenge filed by a concerned citizen, calling it “not exactly a surprise.”
“This is a brand-new body—something that never existed before. Of course people will ask questions,” he said with a calm smile. “We expected this. Maybe more will come. But we’re ready to explain.”
The petition, filed by taxpayer John Barry Tayam, wants the High Court to review Executive Order No. 94, which gave ICI sweeping powers to probe infrastructure anomalies—especially within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), an agency under the President’s own branch.
Tayam warns of conflict of interest and redundancy, pointing out that the Ombudsman and Department of Justice are already investigating similar cases.
But Marcos pushed back firmly: “Before we even thought of creating ICI, I consulted the best legal minds I know. The verdict? We’re on firm legal ground.”
He assured the Solicitor General will vigorously defend the order in court. “If adjustments are needed, we’ll make them. But the goal remains: faster, cleaner, more accountable infrastructure,” he added.
For now, Malacañang stands confident—legal opinions in hand, mission unchanged.