Malacañang to back bills that will give ICI more teeth
Malacañang welcomed moves from both the House of Representatives and the Senate to pass legislation that will provide more teeth to the newly constituted independent commission to probe corruption in government infrastructure projects.
According to Palace press officer Claire Castro, the proposed laws were proof that members of the Congress are recognizing the importance of the President’s Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
President Marcos would be more than welcome to sign the bills “if this would help give the independent commission broader authority,” she noted in a briefing on Tuesday.
“Our lawmakers have likely also seen the importance of what the President did in creating an independent commission,” she added.
Castro said they welcome any contribution that could further strengthen the authority of this commission “because it has only one mission, one goal: to hold accountable those who must be held accountable.”
Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier said he would formally request the President to certify as urgent his Senate Bill No. 1215 to make sure that the executive order creating the ICI will continue and become permanent through a law.
Certifying the bill as urgent allows the House and the Senate to approve a bill on second and third reading on the same day.
The bill proposes the renaming of ICI to the Independent People’s Commission (IPC) with the same mandate given by the President when he issued Executive Order No. 94 creating the ICI on Sept. 11.
However, Sotto’s bill wants to increase the membership of the investigative body from three to five, serving for three years with an option to be reappointed for another three-year term only once.
Contempt powers
Minority lawmakers from the House also wanted the President to certify as urgent House Bill No. 4453, or the proposed Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption Act of 2025.
Under this bill, the ICI’s subpoena power covers all branches of the government, including the constitutionally created bodies, and private companies and individuals.
It also grants the commission full and unrestricted access to all government records.
The bill, among other provisions, gives the power to cite in contempt individuals who will not comply with the subpoenas issued by the ICI.
In addition, the ICI under House Bill 4453 cannot be subjected to a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction by any court, except the Supreme Court.
President Marcos completed on Monday the composition of the ICI tasked to investigate not only corruption in flood-control projects but also all national government infrastructure works over the past 10 years.
The President named retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr. as chair, with former public works secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson and SGV and Co. country managing partner Rossana Fajardo as members. They took their oath on Monday.
Retired police general and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong serves as its special adviser and investigator.
Based on the findings of the ICI probe, it will recommend the filing of appropriate criminal, civil, and administrative cases before the Office of the President, the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice, and the Civil Service Commission.
Budget source
The budget for the operations of the ICI at least for this year will be sourced from the Office of the President, according to Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.
Funds for the ICI’s maintenance and other operating expenses and capital outlay will be charged to the OP’s contingency fund.
“Executive Secretary [Lucas] Bersamin and I talked about it — if it can still be covered by their budget, they will provide this. But if they can’t, they will request it from us (Department of Budget and Management),” she told reporters in Malacañang on Tuesday.
For the payment of ICI staff’s salaries, wages, and other benefits, Pangandaman said they were looking for at least P21 million, which shall be charged to the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefit Fund, which has an allocation of P109 billion under the 2025 General Appropriations Act.
The proposed budget for flood-control projects for 2026 ordered shelved will not be reallocated to the ICI, Pangandaman said.
The members of the ICI took their oath on Monday and on their first working day, they discussed the composition of its secretariat that will manage the body’s day-to-day operations.
President Marcos has yet to appoint the ICI executive director to head the secretariat.
The President earlier said the ICI members agreed to meet “every day,” but noted that he was not privy if they would hold hearings in public, as it is the prerogative of the body. —WITH A REPORT FROM LUISA CABATO
