Ordinary citizens may soon gain the power to directly pursue the recovery of public funds stolen by corrupt government officials, under a new measure being pushed in the House of Representatives.

According to RH Milky Rigonan's report on dzRH's Damdaming Bayan, Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno has filed House Bill 6619, seeking to overhaul the country’s existing Forfeiture Law and make it more responsive to today’s widespread corruption challenges.

"Sa panukalang ito kahit sinong Pilipino pati ikaw ay mabibigyan ng kapangyarihan na magsampa ng civil forfeiture case laban sa tiwali[ng] opisyal," Diokno said in a video statement released on Monday.

Diokno said the bill aims to fast-track the recovery of billions of pesos lost to anomalous government projects, including the controversial flood control scam, which has recently drawn public outrage.

Under the proposed measure, private individuals, civil society organizations, and even corporations will be empowered to initiate and participate in civil forfeiture proceedings before the Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Currently, only government agencies are authorized to pursue such cases.

Diokno emphasized that broadening participation will “strengthen accountability, empower citizens, and ensure that every peso stolen from public coffers is returned to the people.”

The bill also mandates that a significant portion of recovered funds be allocated to priority social programs—including education, healthcare, socialized housing, and social security—to ensure the money benefits the public.

To encourage citizen participation, individuals or organizations instrumental in filing and pursuing successful forfeiture cases will receive a 10% reward from the recovered amount.

Diokno said the reform is “long overdue” and is critical to restoring public trust, especially amid recurring corruption scandals involving infrastructure and flood control projects.