Duterte to order probe on 2 Cabinet members linked to corruption

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on November 3, 2019. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte would order the conduct of investigation on two Cabinet secretaries accused of being involved in corruption, Malacañang said on Thursday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte would act swiftly by validating the allegations against two of his Cabinet members once he receives a report from the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).

“Na kay Presidente ‘yan. Siyempre, papa-imbestigahan ni Presidente. Ipapa-validate niya (It’s up to the President. Of course, he will order an investigation. He will order the validation of the report),” Panelo said in a chance interview.

“Siyempre, may independent pang validation (Of course, there would still be an independent validation),” he added.

On August 14, PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica revealed that two incumbent Cabinet secretaries are being investigated for supposed involvement in corrupt practices in government.

The separate investigations launched in February against the two Cabinet officials were prompted by the complaints submitted to the PACC.

One of the complaints was lodged by an official from the Cabinet Secretary’s department while the other case was filed by a private citizen, Belgica noted.

The PACC official refused to divulge the identity of the Cabinet secretaries, pending the results of the investigations.

A report from the PACC will be transmitted to Duterte once the anti-corruption body is done with the investigations into the two Cabinet members’ supposed involvement in corruption.

On Wednesday, the PACC, along with other state departments and offices, signed a manifesto of support to further improve the current administration’s efforts in fighting corruption in government.

The manifesto requires government offices to “free themselves from corruption activities, combat corruption in their own districts and offices, cooperate with the government in combatting corruption, remain loyal to their oaths of office, and inform the government through the PACC of all corrupt activities that come to their knowledge.”

Failure to comply with the manifesto would mean their “voluntary” resignation from their respective offices.