The resignation of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson from the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) is not a good sign for the Filipino workers’ and people’s struggle for accountability for corruption in the government’s flood control projects.

Singson’s resignation from the ICI, just three months after the body was created by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, highlights the enormity of the corruption cases that the ICI is tasked to investigate. It also puts into question the capacity of the commissioners appointed by Marcos Jr and the body itself to fulfill their tasks. The ICI is showing its cracks amidst mounting workers’ demand for accountability.

Singson’s resignation is another indication that the Filipino workers and people must continue holding big protests against corruption and putting pressure on government to push for accountability. The Marcos Jr government has taken too long to file charges against, let alone arrest and jail, the corrupt contractors and politicians involved in the flood control projects mess. It has acted defensively when the president himself was accused of being involved in corruption.

The ICI commissioner’s resignation coincides with the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, and we continue to call on the Marcos Jr government to jail the corrupt and free the country’s political prisoners. It is an injustice that corrupt contractors and government officials remain free while political prisoners from the labor and social movements are rotting in prison.

Using the expose’s of corruption in the flood control projects and its investigations, the Marcos Jr government is trying to project itself as a champion of democracy. Corruption expose’s and investigations, however, do not suffice to make a government a champion of democracy. The investigations must yield concrete results in holding the corrupt accountable.

At the same time, continuing to detain political prisoners seriously damages any government’s claim to championing democracy. Labor organizing, activism, dissent, joining protests are all part of democracy. They enable workers and other marginalized sectors to claim their rights and to pressure governments to take actions that are necessary for democracy – such as holding corrupt government officials accountable.

We demand that the Marcos Jr government immediately free the 18 political prisoners from the labor movement in the country: Romina Astudillo, Pauline Banjawan, Felixberto Consad, Mark Ryan Cruz, Maritess David, Joel Demate, Tess Dioquino, Jayme Gregorio, Benny Hilamon, Nedo Lagunias, Maoj Maga, Steve Mendoza, Jose Puansing, Nolan Ramos, Bob Reyes, Oliver Rosales, Adelberto Silva, and Marlon Torres.