Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III announced plans to further strengthen Senate Bill No. 1215, also known as the Infrastructure Investigation Act of 2025, by adding several key provisions that would expand the powers of the proposed Independent People’s Commission (IPC).
In a statement on Tuesday, Sotto—principal author of the measure along with Senators Erwin Tulfo and Risa Hontiveros—said the bill aims to establish an independent body tasked with investigating corruption, overpricing, and other anomalies in all government infrastructure projects.
According to Sotto, the enhanced version of the bill will include the following provisions to ensure stronger accountability and faster justice:
1. Availability of Hearings to the Public – The IPC hearings will be made accessible to the public to promote transparency and accountability. However, the commission may hold executive or closed-door sessions when necessary.
2. Expanded Penal Powers – Section 4 of Executive Order No. 94-2025 will be reinforced by granting the IPC authority to impose penalties on private individuals proven to be involved in anomalous infrastructure projects.
3. Authority to File Cases – The IPC will be empowered to directly file cases before appropriate courts or government agencies.
4. Witness Protection Recommendations – The commission will be authorized to recommend witnesses for inclusion in the Witness Protection Program.
5. Power to Freeze Assets and Suspend Officials – The IPC will have the authority to recommend or request the freezing of assets of individuals under investigation and to seek the immediate preventive suspension of government officials involved in questionable projects.
6. Restrictions on Travel Abroad – The IPC may recommend the issuance of hold departure orders or similar measures to restrict the travel of personalities under investigation.
Sotto underscored that the creation of the commission would not only target irregularities in infrastructure development but would also cover other government programs that require scrutiny.
“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.),” Sotto emphasized.