Senator Rodante Marcoleta sought clarification from the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the extent of its involvement with the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) during the Senate committee hearing on the proposed 2026 budget of the DOJ and its attached agencies on Tuesday, October 21.

Marcoleta raised questions about how the ICI can be considered independent if it continues to seek assistance from DOJ prosecutors. DOJ OIC-Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed that the ICI has requested help for fact-finding and case build-up activities.

“Sa fact-finding po, humingi po ng tulong sa amin ang ICI,” Vida said, adding that some fiscal officers have been assigned to help in organizing and assessing gathered evidence.

The senator, however, said such coordination could raise concerns about the ICI’s autonomy.

“Akala ko ba ang ICI is an independent body? Pagka-independent, gagawin niya sa sarili niya, di ba? … Ba’t kinakailangan siyang humingi ng tulong sa mga fiscal ninyo? That is not being independent,” Marcoleta remarked.

He also noted that while the ICI is authorized to obtain information from various institutions, including Congress, the courts, and the Ombudsman, it must do so with respect to institutional boundaries and the principle of separation of powers.

Vida clarified that the DOJ’s assistance is limited to technical and legal support, and that the ICI continues to function as a separate fact-finding body. “We submit to your wisdom, Your Honor,” he said.

The exchange formed part of a broader discussion on how the DOJ, the Ombudsman, and the ICI coordinate their respective mandates in pursuing corruption and infrastructure-related investigations.