Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio is advocating for the strengthening of the Philippine Ombudsman’s powers rather than establishing an independent commission to investigate corruption in infrastructure projects. As the lead convenor of 1Sambayan, Carpio notes that empowering the Ombudsman would be more efficient and cost-effective compared to creating a separate commission like the proposed Independent People’s Commission (IPC).
Carpio suggests that Congress should prioritize the passage of laws that enhance the Ombudsman’s capabilities instead of pursuing legislation for the IPC. His stance highlights the need for a more streamlined approach in addressing corruption, particularly in high-profile infrastructure projects.