Impeachment, anti-political dynasty bill top Congress' priorities

As Congress resumes regular sessions on Monday, January 26, the Senate will immediately tackle the proposed Independent People's Commission (IPC), and other important measures that are part of the Upper Chamber's priority list, Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said.

- By HANNAH L. TORREGOZA and ELLSON QUISMORIO

The filing of impeachment complaints against President Marcos will also take centerstage during the resumption of plenary sessions in the House of Representatives.

Sotto said the proposed IPC remains top of the Senate’s priority agenda for this year, 2026, despite the issues that hounded the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), as proponents of the bill seek a more independent body with broader investigative and enforcement powers to tackle the widespread corruption in government.

“The proposed IPC remains a priority of the Senate,” Sotto said in an interview, defending anew the necessity of passing into law Senate Bill No. 1512 which seeks the creation of the IPC.

“The IPC will not focus on investigations on anomalies on flood control projects. It won’t just focus on the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways). It’s an Independent People’s Commission that covers all anomalies that need the involvement of the people, that is why we included the civil society groups and concerned citizens in the membership of the IPC,” the Senate leader reiterated.

"The investigations will not be confined to the DPWH, it can also probe anomalies in the agriculture sector, national irrigation, DepEd (Department of Education); everything that can be tackled once there are issues of corruption, the IPC can look into it," the senator stressed.

Sotto reiterated that the IPC is envisioned to be a powerful, independent anti-corruption agency that will investigate anomalies, particularly in government infrastructure projects, and be given the powers to issue subpoenas, freeze assets, suspend officials, and recommend policy changes.

The proposed IPC will also seek direct involvement of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ) in its investigation of anomalous government transactions.