NAVOTAS Representative Toby Tiangco expressed confidence that the House of Representatives will approve a measure strengthening the powers of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) before Congress goes on its Christmas break.
“Hopefully, before we go on Christmas break, maipasa natin ito sa House of Representatives,” he said.
Tiangco filed House Bill No. 5699, which seeks to create an Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption (ICAC) and grant it the authority to issue hold departure orders, recover and sequester properties, and with concurrence of the concerned government agencies, directly file administrative, criminal, or civil cases against individuals suspected of involvement in flood control and other infrastructure anomalies.
“Kaya medyo natagalan dahil inobserbahan ko muna ‘yong ICI proceedings, at ‘yong bill na na-file natin ay base sa ating obserbasyon at personal experience kung ano ‘yong mga bagay na kailangan nila para mas magkaroon sila ng ngipin,” he said.
“Number one, dapat magkaroon sila ng power of contempt. Number two, dapat mabigyan sila ng power to issue hold departure orders. Number three, dapat magkaroon sila ng authority to sequester and hold real and personal properties,” he added.
Tiangco reiterated that the proposed measure aims to strengthen agencies such as the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Ombudsman in building solid cases against those involved in infrastructure-related corruption.
“‘Yan ‘yong mga binigay nating dagdag kapangyarihan para makapag-imbestiga sila. And of course, once they find evidence, in coordination with government agencies like the DOJ and Ombudsman, makakapag-file sila ng kaso,” he said.
“Ito’y tutulong lamang sa Ombudsman at sa DOJ para mapabilis ang proseso. Mayroon tayong responsibilidad sa mamamayang Pilipino na ipakita agad na seryoso tayo sa imbestigasyong ito dahil ito ang pinakamalaking corruption scandal sa kasaysayan ng ating bansa,” he added.
Tiangco also thanked House Speaker Bojie Dy and House Committee on Government Reorganization chairperson and Bulacan 6th District Representative Salvador Pleyto for prioritizing the measure.
“Maraming salamat, Speaker Dy at Cong. Pleyto, dahil ginawa ninyong priority measure ang pagpapalakas sa ICI,” he said.
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