Anti-corruption body needs full powers — business groups

TWENTY business groups called for the creation of a fully empowered anti-corruption body to deal with the multi-billion public works scam.

“Our country urgently needs a far more empowered, broad-based, and truly independent anti-corruption body — one that is equipped with the mandate and authority that the current Independent Commission for Infrastruc-ture (ICI) does not possess,” they said.

In particular, the groups, which include the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and the Makati Business Club (MBC), sought the urgent passage of bills that will create the Independent People’s Commission (IPC) and the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption (ICAIC).

“We also urge President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to certify the bills as urgent,” the groups added.

They said the ICI currently functions in an advisory capacity, with the power to request the presence of resource persons and recommend courses of action, including the filing of charges, the seizure of assets, or the issuance of hold-departure orders.

The ICI cannot act decisively on its own, unlike the proposed IPC or ICAIC, which will have full investigative and prosecutorial powers.

“A fully empowered IPC or ICAIC will strengthen the capacity of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice to pursue corruption cases more effectively and restore credibility to the pursuit of integrity in public service,” they said.

“At a time when blatant and widespread misuse of public funds has eroded confidence in our institutions, our nation is confronting a profound crisis of public trust,” they said.

“The Filipino people deserve nothing less than the full truth. A truly independent IPC or ICAIC will guarantee transparency and accountability — no cover-ups, no sacred cows, no political maneuvering,” they added.

The other signatories to the statement were the Bankers Association of the Philippines, Cebu Business Club, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu Leads Foundation, Connected Women, and Federation of Filipi-no-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.

They also include the Federation of Philippine Industries, Filipina CEO Circle, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, FinTech Alliance Philippines, Institute for Solidarity in Asia, Institute of Corporate Directors, and NextGen Organization of Women Corporate Directors.

Also signing were the People Management Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Association of Securities Brokers and Dealers, Inc., the Philippine Women’s Economic Network, the Shareholders’ Association of the Philip-pines, and the UP School of Economics Alumni Association. — Justine Irish D. Tabile