Despite Malacañang’s reluctance, Senate keen on pursuing independent probe body

National

THE Senate leadership is standing firm on pursuing an Independent People’s Commission despite Malacañang’s reluctance to certify the proposal as urgent.

In a report by Philstar, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said he was taken aback by what he called the Palace’s sudden shift in tone, stressing that wavering at this stage could weaken public confidence in the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability in major public works.

Lacson said the loss of enthusiasm from the executive branch was difficult to understand, warning that any perceived hesitation risks emboldening those who benefit from corruption and eroding momentum for meaningful institutional reform.

Former Senate president Franklin Drilon issued an even sterner warning, saying President Marcos could face significant political backlash if he rejects the plan to establish an independent fact-finding commission that would probe alleged kickbacks and irregularities in government infrastructure programs.

Drilon argued that public frustration over alleged massive corruption is already intense, and that blocking the measure could amplify public anger and damage the administration’s credibility at a time when trust in governance is under scrutiny.

The Palace earlier expressed caution over the proposed commission, saying it may overlap with the investigative mandates of the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman, raising potential constitutional concerns and possible conflicts in the execution of duties.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro added that an urgent certification is unnecessary because Congress is already moving swiftly on the proposal, and that the existing Independent Commission for Infrastructure still has no definitive timetable for concluding its work.

Lacson countered that the new commission is intended to build on the findings of the existing body, which has already surfaced irregularities in public works projects, and that Congress must support deeper inquiries rather than allow investigations to stall.(Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)