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Saturday-Friday | October 31 - November 6, 2020
Task force on corruption sets parameters for gov't-wide probe MANILA (Mabuhay) — The inter-agency task force that would look into allegations of corruption in government would prioritize five agencies in its investigation and have set parameters to determine which allegations would be considered, an official of the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Friday. In a press statement, DOJ spokesperson Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar said the probe will look into "amounts involved (in the agency to be investigated), the rank of the persons involved, and the impact on delivery of services to the public". A minimum threshold of PHP1 billion in public funds involved will be one of the parameters, Villar said. She added that while no particular transaction has been identified, the investigations would also include anomalous government procurement as well as transactions entered into by government agencies with private entities. In the list are allegations of irregularities in the Philippine Health
Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and the Land Registration Authority (LRA). Justice Secretar y Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said President Rodrigo Duterte's orders for his agency to go after perpetrators of corruption in government will mean twin goals -- prosecuting offenders and preventing corruption in the bureaucracy. Guevarra clarified that the DOJ's findings on its graft investigations are not merely recommendatory but the initiation of criminal charges. Guevarra met with senior DOJ officials, including Prosecutor General Benedicto A. Malcontento and NBI officer-in-charge (OIC)-director Eric B. Distor on Tuesday to discuss the organization of the task force to investigate allegations of corruption in the bureaucracy. It was agreed during the meeting that the core group constituted for the task force to investigate allegations of corruption in the Philippine
Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) would be the same core group to investigate allegations of corruption in the government. The core group, headed by the DOJ, is composed of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP), National Prosecution
Senators urge DBM to release ASAP remainder of Bayanihan 2 funds MANILA (Mabuhay) — Several senators urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release as soon as possible the remaining allocations under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 to concerned agencies. The lawmakers stressed that said funds were meant to facilitate economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Senate committee on finance chairperson Sonny A ngara welc omed t he DBM's release of P76.22 billion out of the P140 billion general fund that was provided for under the Bayanihan 2. "It’s good since the law is effective until December 19, 2020. It’s best that most of the funding be released soon," Angara said in a message. "It’s clear the government is speeding up its releases and that is good for the various affected sectors who are eligible to receive help under the law," he added. DBM Secretary Wendel Avisado assured that all budget requests are being processed and that there will be no delays as long as complete documentary requirements are submitted by the government agencies, according to Senator Christopher "Bong" Go.
"Wala pong rason na hindi po mai-release ang pondo kaagad. Kung kaming mga legislators ay nag-overtime para maipasa ang Bayanihan 2, dapat mag-overtime din ang mga executive agencies para mapondohan at maimplementa ang mga ito," he added. Senator Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri also reminded the DBM that the Bayanihan 2 is time-bound and urgency is really needed. "Kung hindi ma-release lahat, it's possible na maipasa namin ang isang simple amendment kung saan extend po natin ang validity ng Bayanihan 2," he said in an online interview. Nonetheless, the senator said that
would not be necessary if Avisado can take swift action. Senator Grace Poe also hopes the various affected sectors would be able to feel the impact of the economic recovery package as soon as possible. "Bureaucratic delays must spare the money intended to tide our people and sectors over the coronavirus crisis," she said in a separate statement. "Huwag na nating hintayin ang Pasko bago nila maramdaman ang benepisyo ng Bayanihan 2." The Bayanihan 2 was signed into law last September 11 and will expire on December 19 when Congress adjourns session. (MNS)
Service (NPS), and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC). The task force shall also invite the Commission on Audit (COA), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and the Office of the Ombudsman to work together with the Task Force, with due consideration of their independence as constitutional bodies. (MNS)
Ombudsman warns vs underestimating DOJ-led probe on gov't corruption
MANILA (Mabuhay) — Ombudsman Samuel Martires welcomed the creation of a Department of Justice-led Task Force to probe corruption in the entire government, saying that President Rodrigo Duterte’s move should not be underestimated. Martires noted that the DOJ has been a long-standing partner of the Ombudsman’s office in its drive against corruption. The combined effort of both offices led to the filing of criminal charges against government officials over the P10 billion pork barrel scam. Recently, the probe on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation fund mess led to Martires issuing preventive-suspension orders against top officials of the state-insurer. “The directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to Secretary Menardo Guevarra to investigate allegations of corruption in the government is most welcome. Secretary Guevarra is an intelligent and decent public servant who is well-respected by his peers and colleagues,” Martires said. “Given this partnership, there is absolutely no basis to detract or underestimate the laudable objectives of the President in creating the DOJ mega task force,” Martires added. He also said that the Ombudsman and the DOJ were part of the Inter-Agency Anti-Graft Coordinating Council—a multi-agency partnership established in 1999 as a voluntary alliance of government agencies to formulate and develop concerted techniques and strategies in the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of graft cases. “In any case, investigations conducted by the DOJ involving complaints of corruption are subject to the evaluation of the Ombudsman,” Martires said. Martires then assured the public that his office— an independent constitutional body—will continue to conduct in-depth parallel investigations as to alleged anomalies in the government “despite this Office’s limited manpower and the ongoing reorganization to strengthen the bureaus undertaking investigative functions.” House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate earlier said that nothing much could be expected on the DOJled probe. After all, the President had cleared Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar of corruption, and had absolved National Capital Region Police Office chief Major General Debold of quarantine violations. Zarate also argued that there was no need for such a task force given that such investigations were part of the Office of the Ombudsman's mandate. (MNS)
