House Deputy Minority Leader and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima led the filing of a measure seeking to create an independent commission to investigate the misuse of funds for flood control and other infrastructure projects.
On Tuesday afternoon, De Lima and 10 other lawmakers filed House Bill 4435, or the “Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption Act,” stressing that a credible, broad-based, and independent Commission shall be created with full authority and subpoena powers to conduct thorough investigations of allegations of corruption.
“We believe that an Independent Commission established by law would have more teeth than just a panel to be created by the President. Through this independent and broad-based body with vast investigative and subpoena powers, we will ferret out the whole truth and exact full accountability that the Filipinos deserve,” De Lima said.
The Commission will be mandated to recommend prosecution and file administrative and criminal cases against erring public officials and employees, as well as private individuals and entities, and to propose necessary reforms in the country’s laws, regulations, and government policies.
Such reforms may include those concerning procurement, auditing, and project monitoring mechanisms to prevent recurrence of corruption in government infrastructure projects, she added.
It shall have jurisdiction to hear and investigate all allegations, complaints, and active cases of graft, corruption, malversation, and plunder in infrastructure projects.
If enacted, all complaints involving corruption in infrastructure projects filed with the regular investigation and prosecution agencies shall be referred to the Commission to avoid duplication of investigations, De Lima explained.
