Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Thursday, December 4 renewed his push for the passage of the measure establishing the Independent People’s Commission (IPC).

Pangilinan made the call in light of the resignation of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio "Babes" Singson from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

The senator said Singson’s exit from the ICI underscores the urgent need to pass the IPC bill, noting that the former DPWH secretary himself said the ICI needs the necessary “ammunition” to investigate flood control anomalies.

“It has become even more important to pass this IPC—Independent People’s Commission—to address some of the reasons why they resigned,” Pangilinan stressed.

“They need more teeth, they need broader powers so they can do their job. The issues they face are no joke because this case is very controversial, this scandal is very controversial,” he added.

Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, earlier sponsored the proposed Independent People’s Commission (IPC) Act, or Senate Bill No. 1512, which seeks to create a commission to investigate anomalies in government infrastructure projects.

The proposed IPC would have significant authority including the power to issue subpoenas, cite in contempt individuals, freeze assets and blacklist erring contractors to ensure accountability for corruption in infrastructure projects.

“It is really necessary to give them full support and the Independent People's Commission will give them the support that they need to be able to do the job right,” Pangilinan said.

The measure also gives the IPC the power to cancel licenses of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the power to grant witness immunity and protection, and the power to issue look out orders and recommend hold departure orders to proper authorities.

SB No. 1512 will also give the IPC the power to suspend and blacklist contractors and remove them from the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System, the power to recommend to the President policy measures, the power to temporarily issue closure orders, the power to sequester assets temporarily, the power to deputize the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and other law enforcement agencies in the conduct of its investigation.

Moreover, establishing the IPC will eliminate allegations there are “sacred cows” in the investigation.

“We want to give them all these things…If you give them the powers, the chances of having sacred cows will be diminished largely,” the lawmaker pointed out.

“Now, they can't even cite in contempt those who may not recognize them. But if they are given more power, we can say that the ‘sacred cows’ situation can be avoided,” Pangilinan explained.

The senator said he believes that public trust would be restored once those behind the massive corruption in government infrastructure projects are jailed.

Pangilinan expressed hope that President Marcos would certify the bill as urgent, so Congress could pass the measure before the year ends.

“If the President certifies it as urgent, there's a big chance that it might be passed before the end of the year,” he said.