PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to have confidence in the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), Malacañang said on Wednesday, amid calls for its abolition and questions about the body’s viability with the resignation of two of its three members. Speaking to reporters, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the president’s primary instruction was for accountability to prevail, without fear or favor.“As long as the president’s trust in the ICI is there, what he wants is for everyone to be held accountable, without favoritism or bias,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.She issued the statement after Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong rated the ICI’s performance poorly and called for its abolition, and former Senate president Franklin Drilon said the commission could no longer function.She said the Palace would rather allow ICI to complete its work instead of preempting the president’s position.Addressing concerns about the commission’s composition, Castro said the ICI could still perform its recommendatory role even with only its chairman remaining.She said Justice Andres Reyes, the ICI chairman, might still recommend the filing of cases if evidence is sufficient, noting that anyone might submit recommendations to the Ombudsman.“It is not an obstacle that only the chairman remains for recommending cases,” she said.Castro also said a quorum was not required for the ICI to recommend cases, as its mandate at this stage was recommendatory rather than adjudicatory.Asked why no new commissioners have been appointed following the departure of Rogelio Singson and Rossana Fajardo, Castro said the matter rests solely with the president and declined to speculate.She said the absence of replacements does not mean investigations have stalled.Castro also pointed out that the ICI was not the only body probing alleged flood control anomalies, as investigations are also being pursued by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman, ensuring continuity of accountability efforts.Marcos created the independent fact-finding body in September last year to investigate alleged irregularities in government flood control and other infrastructure projects.Meanwhile, Castro said a bill creating a new independent commission that could expand or institutionalize the ICI’s functions remained a priority measure of the president.She said this reflected the administration’s commitment to sustained oversight of major infrastructure projects.