Certify ICI bill, labor, business urge BBM

Business and labor groups have joined forces to urge President Marcos to take bold action, including certifying as urgent a bill giving the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) more teeth, to restore trust in the government amid widespread corruption in infrastructure projects.

- LOUELLA DESIDERIO

In an open letter to Marcos, the groups pushed for concrete actions to restore faith in the government before the people's patience runs out.

"We, the undersigned largest trade unions and leading business organizations, united in our love of country, fidelity to the Constitution, faith in our people, urgently call on your administration to firmly and fearlessly lead from the front in confronting the largest and most brazen corruption scandal in our nation's history," the groups said.

The letter was issued by business groups Employers Confederation of the Philippines; Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., and labor groups such as the Federation of Free Workers, Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.

The groups said they want Marcos to "certify as urgent proposed legislation granting the ICI full subpoena and contempt powers." To uncover the truth, the groups also want the ICI to conduct public hearings and disclose all submissions, position papers and supporting documents presented to the body.

For the probe to move swiftly and lead to prosecution and convictions of those guilty, regardless of position or ties with Marcos, the groups are pushing for the creation of a special division in Sandiganbayan dedicated exclusively to infrastructure corruption cases.

The groups are also calling on Marcos to recover the stolen wealth through immediate asset freezing, insurance recovery and restitution of misused public funds.