Palace Cool To Bill Creating Another Infra Probe Body

Malacañang is wary of the Independent People’s Commission (IPC) being proposed in the Senate to investigate anomalies in government projects, saying it might only duplicate the functions of existing agencies.

Some legislators are seeking the creation of the IPC, citing the need to ensure accountability for those who benefited from anomalous infrastructure projects.

In an interview with radio station dzBB, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro raised the possibility of the IPC facing issues, particularly on the duplication of functions with those of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Ombudsman.

“If they are going to craft a law to create the Independent People’s Commission, I hope it’s constitutionality would not be questioned because it may lead to a redundancy,” Castro said on Sunday, Dec. 7.

“There are (agencies) tasked to do that. The ombudsman and the DOJ are mandated to conduct hearings, look at and evaluate probable cause. They file cases before the Sandiganbayan or the courts,” the Palace press officer said.

In the same radio interview, Castro said there is no need for President Marcos to certify the IPC bill as urgent since lawmakers are already acting swiftly on the measure. She added that there are no discussions yet as to when the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) would wind down its operations.

Under Senate Bill No. 1512, the IPC will have the power to investigate anomalies in government infrastructure projects, a problem highlighted by revelations of multi-billion peso kickbacks that officials and their private sector cohorts had raked in from substandard or ghost flood control projects.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, one of the authors of the bill, said the measure seeks the creation of a “balanced, effective and an independent investigative body” tasked to look into the “systematic corruption” of funds intended for infrastructure.

In an earlier statement, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, a co-author of the IPC bill, said the measure aims to expand the powers of the ICI, the body formed by President Marcos to probe subpar and ghost flood control projects.

The Senate’s HB 1512 grants the IPC the powers to cite contempt, cancel licenses issued by the Professional Regulatory Commission, as well as to grant witness immunity and protection.

The proposed IPC, if approved, would also be empowered to issue lookout orders as well as to recommend hold departure orders to proper authorities.

Proponents of the measure also want the IPC to be given the power to suspend or blacklist contractors as well as to recommend to the president relevant policy measures.

If approved, the IPC would also be given the power to temporarily issue closure orders, temporarily sequester assets as well as deputize law enforcement agencies in the conduct of its probe.

The ICI, established through Executive Order 94, covers flood control and other infrastructure carried out in the last 10 years.

Its functions include examining evidence and reports against government officials and personnel linked to irregularities, issuing subpoenas for attendance of witnesses, conducting hearings and recommending the freezing or seizure of assets reasonably believed to be tied to anomalous projects.

The creation of the ICI stemmed from Marcos’ order in his fourth State of the Nation Address last July that questionable flood control projects be investigated and those behind them punished.