US embassy official’s visit to ICI a courtesy call amid criticisms - Palace

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Metro Manila, Philippines - Malacañang said that the visit of US embassy acting Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Kelleher to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) was a mere courtesy call.

In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said there was no discussion of US involvement in the investigation on flood control projects.

“Nagkausap po kami mismo at tinawagan po natin si Atty. (Brian Keith) Hosaka at tinanong po natin kung ano iyong kanilang naging usapan. According to him, nagkaroon lang daw po ng courtesy call at inalam lang po kung ano iyong mandato ng ICI. Just a courtesy call,” Castro said.

[Translation: We spoke directly and I called Atty. Hosaka to ask what they discussed. He said it was just a courtesy call, and Kelleher inquired only about the ICI’mandate. Just a courtesy call.]

Asked if the US embassy had offered assistance to the commission, Castro said no such thing was made.

“Wala rin po silang napag-usapan. Nagtanong lang po talaga ng kung ano iyong methodology at kung ano iyong mandato ng ICI,” she said.

[Translation: They did not talk about anything else. Kelleher only asked about the ICI’s methodology and mandate.]

Kelleher met with the ICI last week but did not take questions from reporters.

The meeting, however, sparked criticism from a number of sectors questioning the panel’s transparency and its openness to a foreign visitor.

“Na para bang may awtoridad ang Estados Unidos sa mga internal na usapin ng ating bansa, habang pinananatiling bulag ang mga Pilipino,” fisherfolk group Pamalakaya said Saturday.

[Translation: It’s as if the US has authority over our internal affairs while Filipinos are being kept in the dark.]

Pamalakaya called the visit “unacceptable and insulting,” noting that the ICI has rejected calls to livestream its hearings for transparency while “welcoming a foreign diplomat with open arms.”

Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co also questioned the meeting in a post on X, saying, “US interference gusto, transparency and public hearings ayaw?”

[Translation: They’re open to US interference, but not to transparency and public hearings?]

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño also asked on X, “What the hell is the US doing interfering on this matter?”

The ICI is leading a probe on alleged anomalies in government flood control projects.