Business groups push fully empowered anti-corruption body

Insider Spotlight

• Top Philippine business groups urge Congress to create an independent, fully empowered anti-corruption commission
• Senate, House, and President Marcos pressed to fast-track IPC/ICAIC bills
• Proposed body would have full investigative and prosecutorial powers over graft in government projects
• Groups say rampant misuse of public funds has triggered a “crisis of public trust”  

A broad coalition of Philippine business groups is urging the swift passage of bills creating a fully empowered, independent anti-corruption body to investigate and prosecute graft in government projects.

In a joint statement dated December 10, 2025, the signatories appealed to the Senate to immediately pass the bill establishing an Independent People’s Commission (IPC) and pressed the House of Representatives to act “without delay” on the counterpart Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption (ICAIC). They also called on President Marcos to certify both measures as urgent.

Driving the news

The groups argue that the 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 on Infrastructure (ICI) does not possess.”

At present, they note, the ICI can only call resource persons and recommend actions such as filing charges or issuing hold-departure orders but “cannot act decisively on its own.”

Zoom in

Under the proposal, the IPC or ICAIC would have full investigative and prosecutorial powers. It would be authorized to “conduct comprehensive probes into allegations of corruption in government projects; file administrative and criminal cases against erring public officials, employees, and private sector partners; and recommend needed reforms in our laws, systems, and institutions.”

The business groups say this would “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.”

Between the lines

The statement links the push to what it calls “blatant and widespread misuse of public funds” that has “eroded confidence in our institutions” and left the country facing “a profound crisis of public trust.”

What they’re saying

“The Filipino people deserve nothing less than the full truth. A truly independent IPC or ICAIC will guarantee transparency and accountability—no cover-up, no sacred cow, no political maneuvering. It will safeguard the people’s money and help rebuild the people’s trust that is essential to a healthy democracy."

Signatories include the Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Bankers Association of the Philippines, major chambers in Cebu, fintech and securities groups, and women and shareholder networks, underscoring broad private-sector backing for a stronger anti-corruption architecture. —Daxim L. Lucas | Ed; Corrie S. Narisma