MANILA — Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said the Senate will not be able to pass the bill creating the Independent People’s Commission (IPC) before the chamber suspends session next week.

In a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Sotto said the bill will instead be tackled on the floor in May or June.

“I’ll be very blunt to say na sa dami ng naka pending sa’min dito, ‘yung IPC, because of the two interpellators na naka pending, tapos may four interpellators sa anti-political dynasty, I doubt if we can pass it next week. I’ll be very blunt to say that we can’t,” he said.
(I’ll be very blunt to say that with the number of bills that are pending with us – the IPC has two more interpellators that are pending, while there are four interpellators in the anti-political dynasty, I doubt if we can pass it next week. I’ll be very blunt to say that we can’t.)

“Pero pagbalik (when we return) in May, we have enough time. In May until June,” he added.

Sotto explained that the Senate’s longer interpellation process has so far allowed only four or five priority measures to be passed. He said lawmakers aim to approve at least 80% of the 17 priority measures by June.

The proposed IPC is an independent body tasked with investigating anomalies, documenting cases, and recommending actions to address corruption, mismanagement, and negligence in the planning, procurement, and implementation of public infrastructure projects.

Bills filed in both the Senate and House of Representatives propose that the IPC be authorized to issue contempt sanctions or penalties against individuals who ignore legal orders. The commission would also be empowered to file complaints against officials or government personnel who obstruct investigations into corruption in government projects.