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House panel OKs measure seeking to strengthen the independent body investigating flood control anomalies

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — A measure to strengthen the independent commission investigating flood control and infrastructure anomalies has hurdled the House Committee on Government Reorganization.The House panel approved on Thursday an unnumbered substitute bill that proposes the creation of an Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption (ICAIC).<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/12/independent-people-s-commission-bill-sponsored-in-senate-plenary-2128">Bill creating Independent People’s Commission sponsored in Senate plenary </a></div>Under the substitute bill, the ICAIC will have the power to:•  issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and submission of records •  issue hold departure orders against individuals suspected of involvement in anomalies •  freeze, recover, sequester, or attach properties, deposits, investments, and virtual assets accumulated by individuals involved in anomalies • order the preventive suspension of government officials involved in anomalous, fraudulent, or grossly irregular infrastructure projects, under certain conditions •  issue recommendations for the Securities and Exchange Commission to close or revoke the registration of establishments found responsible for anomalous infrastructure projects • recommend the cancellation of the Philippine passport of individuals involved in anomalous projects • recommend to the Department of Justice the grant of witness protection and immunity to any person who provides material information essential to the investigation • obtain full and unrestricted access to all government records<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/12/ici-seeks-power-to-padlock-establishments-liable-for-flood-control-infra-anomalies-0041">ICI seeks power to padlock establishments liable for flood control, infra anomalies</a></div><div> </div><div>PUBLIC HEARINGS</div>The bill also contains a provision requiring the ICAIC to hold its hearings and investigation in public and to make them open to the media and to livestreaming. Executive sessions may be held for national security, privacy and data protection concerns, and upon a majority vote of all the commission’s members.Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, one of the measure&#x27;s authors, said the ICAIC, if created, would exist until December 31, 2028.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/23/ici-needs-rules-of-procedure-before-it-can-livestream-sessions-1748">ICI needs rules of procedure before it can livestream sessions</a></div>Tiangco stressed the importance of the independent investigation into alleged flood control and infrastructure anomalies amid reports of a supposed buy-and-sell scheme for DPWH projects.“Open secret ‘yan… ‘yung ibinibenta ‘yung… allocations for 20%.‘Yung personal knowledge ko is na may bentahan… Wala akong personal knowledge kung sino ‘yung mga bumibili,” he said.(That is an open secret, that allocations are sold for 20% of the contract cost. My personal knowledge is that it happens but I don&#x27;t have personal knowledge of who buys them)The substitute bill will be transmitted to the House Committee on Appropriations for its review of the budget provisions.House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Tuesday vowed to pass the bill at the lower chamber before Congress goes on break this December.

A measure to strengthen the independent commission investigating flood control and infrastructure anomalies has hurdled the House Committee on Government Reorganization.

A measure to strengthen the independent commission investigating flood control and infrastructure anomalies has hurdled the House Committee on Government Reorganization.

House panel OKs bill to strengthen independent body investigating flood control anomalies

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House panel OKs bill to strengthen independent body investigating flood control anomalies

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 14, 2025 07:52 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

Flood control project

ICAIC

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