MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman clarified how it handles referrals from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), describing the transmission of cases as part of a “natural flow” of work, after ICI Commissioner Rossana Fajardo submitted her resignation effective Dec. 31.
Officials said the description of referrals as part of a “natural flow” refers to the standard movement of information and documents from the ICI to the Ombudsman for possible investigation or further action.
The office said it assesses each referral to determine jurisdiction, sufficiency of evidence, and next steps in accordance with applicable laws and internal rules. It confirmed that the resignation of Commissioner Fajardo does not interrupt the transmission of referrals, and institutional mechanisms remain in place to ensure continuity.
Officials said the Ombudsman coordinates with the ICI on pending and future referrals, recording, docketing, and assigning each case to the appropriate unit for evaluation. They said all ICI referrals, whether submitted before or after Fajardo’s resignation, will undergo the same standard review process.
The ICI confirmed Fajardo’s resignation and said it will continue preparing and sending referrals to the Ombudsman in line with its mandate on infrastructure-related matters. The Ombudsman added that it will provide further information on specific referrals when procedures allow public disclosure.