MANILA – Malacañang expressed regret over the resignation of Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as special adviser of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), but assured that the body will continue its work to uphold transparency and accountability in government projects.

“It is unfortunate Mayor Magalong resigned,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave M. Gomez said in a statement.

Magalong tendered his resignation in a letter addressed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday.

Gomez emphasized that public trust in the ICI goes beyond any individual and highlighted the need to allow the commission to carry out its work without political interference.

“The demand of the Filipino people from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure is higher than any one person,” Gomez said.

“The Commission, made up of distinguished professionals with unassailable integrity, has hit the ground running on Day 1. The Palace respects the autonomy of the Commission. Let’s allow them to do their job and deliver on their mandate,” he added.

The ICI was created under Executive Order No. 94 issued on Sept. 11 to investigate anomalies in multibillion-peso flood control and infrastructure projects implemented over the past 10 years.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 28, Marcos denounced corruption in flood control projects and expressed dismay that Filipinos continue to endure flooding during heavy rains.