TASK FORCE VS. ‘SYSTEMIC CORRUPTION’ PUSHED
PACC suddenly in scramble to show it is fighting corruption
SENATOR Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, has proposed to Pres. Duterte the formation of a special “task force” that he said would help “cure” government agencies from “systemic corruption.”
In a statement his office released last August 7, 2020, three days after the Senate finished its initial investigation on another round of corruption accusations against the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Go said he had proposed to the President for the multi-agency task force to be spearheaded by the Department of Justice.
In addition, Go, who always has the ears of the Chief Executive, said the DOJ can be assisted in its task by the Commission on Audit, the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Executive Secretary.
As if merely an afterthought, Go also said the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) “may also be tapped” to assist in the effort.
Go explained that although the task force can initially start with a probe on PhilHealth, it can later on cover other agencies “with issues of systemic and deeply rooted corruption, such as the Bureau of Customs.”
“Hindi lang naman po PhilHealth ang may problema, alam natin na may iba pang mga ahensya dyan na kailangang gamutin para tuluyang matanggal ang corruption sa kanilang sistema. Halimbawa nito ay ang Customs (Bureau of Customs),” Go said.
Go’s proposal to Pres. Duterte clearly discounting the PACC’s role in weeding out corruption in government since its creation three years ago has made commissioner Greco Belgica scampering to let the public know of what it was purportedly doing to investigate corruption at PhilHealth.
In a flurry of press statements last week, Belgica suddenly bared the PACC has already made its “initial report” and has submitted it to Malacañang, more than one year now after it has begun its investigation.
Greco said that among others, their report listed PhilHealth officers and employees purportedly engaged in corruption.
During last week’s Senate hearing, Go bewailed the corruption at PhilHealth “at a time when Filipinos face a health crisis” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“How can PhilHealth help in curing the public from illness when it cannot even cure its own problems,” Go added.
“Itong isyu sa PhilHealth, halos taon-taon na ito iniimbestigahan ng Senado.
“Naka ilang palit na rin tayo ng liderato, pang-apat na PhilHealth President na ito (under Pres. Duterte) at nagkaroon na rin ng board revamp, pero mukhang nasa loob ng ahensya at sa ibaba talaga ang problema,” Go said.
Sidelining the PACC again, Go said the task force should be empowered not only to investigate, conduct life-style check and audit but also, file cases and recommend the suspension of crooked government officials and employees.
