Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is calling for the immediate passage of a proposed measure that would establish an Independent People’s Commission (IPC) tasked to investigate corruption and irregularities in government infrastructure projects.

In a recent radio interview, Pangilinan said the Senate Bill No. 1215, which he is sponsoring as chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, responds to growing public frustration over the lack of accountability in major government projects.

“Kailangan natin bilisan (We need to move faster),” Pangilinan stressed. 

“Nakakalungkot ang obserbasyon ng taong bayan — hanggang hearing lang ang mga imbestigasyon, pero yung malalaking tao ay exempted o absuwelto sa pananagutan (It’s disheartening for the public to see that no one ever gets jailed — the investigations end with hearings, but the powerful are either exempt from criminal liability or eventually acquitted).”

The senator also urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to certify the bill as urgent, allowing Congress to prioritize its passage before the Senate begins deliberations on the 2026 national budget.

“Kung ma-certify ng Pangulo as urgent, mas lalo nating mapapabilis ito (If the President certifies it as urgent, it will be accomplished even faster. We also need to catch up with the national budget debates in the Senate),” he said. 

“Pag nag-umpisa na ang budget debates sa Senado, wala nang ibang tinatalakay. Kailangan nating tiyakin na mapapasa natin ito, at sana suportahan ng lahat ng senador (When the budget debates in the Senate begin, nothing else is discussed. We need to make sure that we will—as best as we can—pass this measure. And we hope that all senators will support this measure),” he added.

Pangilinan also wants to include funding for the IPC in the 2026 national budget to ensure its immediate operation once enacted into law.

Senate Bill No. 1215, authored by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Senators Erwin Tulfo and Risa Hontiveros, proposes a non-partisan fact-finding body with powers to issue subpoenas, cite individuals in contempt, and impose freeze orders on suspected assets.

The IPC will be mandated to investigate all types of national and local government infrastructure projects, including those in education, agriculture, flood control, disaster resilience, and public works.

Under the measure, investigations must be completed within 60 days, with the final report made public within 30 days of completion.

The proposed commission seeks to strengthen ongoing anti-corruption efforts amid widespread criticism of the existing Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which was created through an executive order by President Marcos. 

Critics argue that while the ICI can issue subpoenas, its lack of contempt powers limits its effectiveness in compelling witnesses and enforcing accountability.


Pangilinan said the creation of the IPC will help restore public confidence in government projects and ensure that taxpayer money is protected from misuse.

“We owe it to the Filipino people to make sure every peso spent on infrastructure truly benefits them, not those who abuse the system,” he added.