Business and labor groups have united to urge President Marcos to certify as urgent a bill granting more powers to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to combat corruption in infrastructure projects. In an open letter, they call for swift action to restore public trust before patience runs out. The groups cite a Pulse Asia survey showing 97 percent of Filipinos view government corruption as widespread.
In an open letter to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the largest trade unions and leading business organizations have united to demand bold action against corruption in infrastructure projects. "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," stated the letter from the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc., Federation of Free Workers, Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.
They urge Marcos to certify as urgent proposed legislation granting the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) full subpoena and contempt powers. Additionally, the ICI should conduct public hearings and disclose all submissions, position papers, and supporting documents. To expedite probes leading to prosecutions and convictions regardless of the guilty parties' positions or ties to Marcos, they propose creating a special division in the Sandiganbayan dedicated to infrastructure corruption cases.
Furthermore, they call for recovering stolen wealth through immediate asset freezing, insurance recovery, and restitution of misused public funds, with a substantial portion reallocated to support Filipinos, especially workers. Regular sectoral dialogues between workers and employers are recommended to gather firsthand information on corruption's impact on jobs, investments, and daily lives. For budget process reform, they suggest opening congressional hearings and bicameral conference committees to the public and institutionalizing multi-sectoral participation from the start of the National Expenditure Program (NEP), making it truly the "people’s budget."
The September 2025 Pulse Asia survey shows 97 percent of Filipinos describing government corruption as widespread. The groups criticize current measures, such as immigration lookout bulletins instead of hold departure orders, and closed-door investigations lacking transparency. "Instead of open transparent hearings, we get closed-door investigations whose direction remains unknown," the letter states.
Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Pangilinan urged Congress to hasten passage of Senate Bill 1215 creating the Independent People’s Commission (IPC) to expand ICI functions. "Hopefully, (it passes) before Christmas, because we need this immediately," he said in Filipino. The IPC would gain powers like requesting search and seizure orders and recommending bank account freezing. The ICI currently operates with only 13 lawyers, 10 volunteers. Pangilinan also encouraged peaceful protests to prevent repeats of past failures, like the acquittal of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile in the pork barrel scam.