Senate may pass IPC bill by February — SP Sotto

The bill creating the powerful Independent People’s Commission (IPC) may be approved in the Senate by February, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said Friday. 

“‘Yung [IPC] na aming in-act up ay on second reading. At kung ‘di ako nagkakamali, isa o dalawa na lang ang for interpellation. So mabilis din sa Senate version ‘yan,” Sotto said in a Zoom interview with reporters. 

(The IPC bill that we tackled is on second reading. If I’m not mistaken, one or two are still up for interpellation. So the Senate version may be approved swiftly.) 

“End of March? Oo naman. Dapat ‘yan nga, as a matter of fact, dapat ‘yan February. By February, tapos na sa Senate ‘yan. Sana matapos rin sa House,” he added. 

(It can be passed by the end of March. But as a matter of fact, it should be done by February. By February, it should have been approved by the Senate. I hope the House will also be able to do so by then.) 

The proposed IPC is an independent body tasked to investigate anomalies, document, and recommend measures to address corruption, mismanagement, and negligence in the planning, procurement and implementation of public infrastructure projects.

In bills filed in the Senate and in the House of Representatives, lawmakers proposed that the IPC be authorized to issue contempt sanctions or penalties against individuals who do not comply with legal orders.

The proposed IPC will also have the authority to file complaints against officials or any government personnel who try to block investigations into corruption in government projects.

In December 2025, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged the Congress to prioritize the passage of the proposed IPC Act.

Sotto, meanwhile, believes the IPC bill will be signed into law before the President’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July. 

“Yes, I'm confident that he will [sign it],” he said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News