Duterte promises due process for 2 Cabinet execs linked to corruption
Credit to Author: Catherine S. Valente, TMT| Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2019 03:08:43 +0000
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has assured the public that he would fire any government official found guilty of irregularities, following reports that two of his Cabinet men were being investigated by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).
Speaking to reporters in Malacañang late Tuesday night, Duterte said he learned about the PACC investigation but stressed that the Cabinet officials should be accorded due process.
“Wala pa akong nalaman, actually. I do not know of any — I should know, actually, kung — if you are corrupt. Kasi ipapatawag kita dito sa opisina and we will have a one-on-one talk,” Duterte said during a press conference.
“Kasi kung meron, I’ll fire you. Sigurado ‘yan. Pagkatapos na nung… But let us observe due process,” he added.
Duterte made the statement after PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica said the PACC has submitted its findings and recommendations to the Office of the President about the two Cabinet members.
Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo had said that Duterte would order an investigation to validate the findings of the 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 last week.
“Siyempre, may independent pang validation (Of course, there would still be an independent validation),” he added.
In August, Belgica revealed that two incumbent Cabinet secretaries were 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 said.
But the PACC official also refused to divulge the identity of the Cabinet secretaries, pending results of the investigations.
On Wednesday, the PACC, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and 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 “voluntary” resignation from their respective offices.