Powers ng Independent People’s Commission vs gov’t infra anomalies, PALALAKASIN – Sotto

Ni Ernie Reyes

Mas palalakasin pa ang kapangyarihan ng panukalang Senate Bill No. 1215 na mas kilalanin bilang Infrastructure Investigation Act of 2025 sa pamamagitan ng pagdaragdag ng ilang probisyon sa batas, ayon kay Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Sa pahayag nitong Martes, sinabi ni Sotto, pangunahing awtor ng panukala kasama sina Senador Erwin Tulfo at Risa Hontiveros na layunin nitong lumikha ng Independent People’s Commission upang imbestigahan ang lahat ng corruption, overpricing at iba pang anomalya sa lahat ng proyektong pang-imprastraktura ng pamahalaan.  

Kabilang sa panukalang dagdag kapangyarihan ng IPC, ayon kay Sotto:

1. Availability of hearings to the public – The importance of making the IPC hearings accessible to the public, citing the clamor for transparency and accountability. However, the commission may hold executive or closed-door sessions when necessary.

2. Expanded Penal Powers – Strengthening Section 4 of Executive Order No. 94-2025 by empowering the IPC to impose penalties on private individuals found to be involved in anomalous infrastructure projects.

3. Authority to File Cases – The IPC will be given the authority to file cases before the appropriate courts or government agencies.

4. Witness Protection Recommendations – The commission should be authorized to recommend witnesses for the inclusion in the Witness Protection Program.

5. Power to Freeze Assets and Suspend Officials – The  IPC should also be granted the power to recommend or request the freezing of assets of individuals under investigation, as well as the immediate preventive suspension of government officials involved in questionable projects, and lastly,

6. Restrictions to Travel Abroad – The commission be given the authority to recommend the issuance of hold departure orders or other remedies to limit the travel of personalities under investigation.

“This Independent People’s Commission that we would like to push for is not limited to investigating infrastructure-related anomalies but it is (all) encompassing and it will include (other government projects that need scrutiny.),” giit ni Sotto.

Ernie Reyes nag-uulat para sa RoadNews