House bill allows private citizens to sue for recovery of stolen gov't funds

House Bill No. 6619 seeks to empower private citizens to directly initiate cases for the recovery of stolen government funds by amending Republic Act No. 1379, also known as the Forfeiture Law.

The proposed legislation will enable private individuals, civil society organizations, and corporations to commence and engage in civil forfeiture proceedings within regional trial courts.

Authors of the bill, including Akbayan party-list Reps. Chel Diokno, Percival Cendaña, and Haima Ismula, and Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene Kaka Bag-ao, highlighted the need to modernize the current civil forfeiture system.

The concept behind HB 6619 is inspired by the writ of qui tam, an old English legal practice where private individuals can sue on behalf of the government and potentially receive a portion of the recovered assets.

Rep. Diokno emphasized the bill's aim to strengthen accountability and ensure that stolen public funds are swiftly returned to the people.