Sotto: Passage of ICI bill can be expedited even if not LEDAC priority

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said Tuesday that the passage of the bill that would institutionalize the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) can be fast tracked even if it is not included in the priority measures of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). 

“Pwedeng pabilisin ito kahit wala sa (we can expedite this even if it’s not on the) LEDAC list. Will pursue it during the break,” Sotto told reporters in a Viber message. 

Sotto in August filed Senate Bill No. 1215, which seeks to create an Independent People’s Commission (IPC), an independent body tasked to investigate anomalies in all government infrastructure projects. 

The commission shall be granted the power to issue subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents, records, and other evidence. Failure to comply shall be punishable by law. 

It shall also recommend the prosecution or further investigation by the Ombudsman or the filing of criminal, civil, or administrative charges against those found culpable. 

A counterpart bill was also filed at the House of Representatives last month. 

Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice earlier said that the House can convene in a special session to tackle House Bill No. 4453. He also called on his colleagues to convince President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to certify the bill as an urgent measure. —AOL, GMA Integrated News