By NG Seruela
The Presidential Anti-Communication Commission (PACC) said it is looking into several possible corruption cases in the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
In the Laging Handa public briefing on Monday (July 5), PACC Chairperson Greco Belgica said the agency is probing four cases in the DSWD over issues relating to the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) and “ayuda.”
“Apat po ang hawak naming kaso sa DSWD. Ang ilan po doon ay involving ang SAP-related concerns, dahil [9,000] nga po ang reklamo namin na natanggap tungkol sa SAP na iniimbestigahan ho namin. Hindi lang SAP, pati ayuda,” he said.
Moreover, Belgica said the agency is investigating nine cases in the DOH and might file a case against the department this week. He said the department is “active and participative” in PACC’s investigation.
“Siyam po ang kaso ng DOH sa PACC na iniimbestigahan. Ang ilan po roon, kasama mismo si [Health] Secretary [Francisco] Duque [III] at alam ho niya iyan, dahil sumasagot ho siya sa mga imbestigasyon namin,” he explained.
“Participative and very active po ang DOH sa mga imbestigasyon namin. So, this week actually may isasampa ho kaming kaso sa DOH – ilalabas din namin this week din po – kaya ongoing po iyan.”
Meanwhile, both departments denied Senator Manny Pacquiao’s allegations of corruption.
According to DSWD Sec. Rolando Bautista, all the funds given to the financial service providers (FSPs), who distributed the financial aid, are “accounted for.”
“Ang lahat ng ayuda na ipinamahagi ay sinuportahan ng liquidation reports na maaaring maibahagi kung kinakailangan. Kaya tinitiyak ng aming ahensiya na ang mga prosesong isinagawa ng mga FSPs sa mga payouts ay alinsunod sa mga prosesong aprubado ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas at naaayon sa umiiral na government accounting rules and procedures,” he assured.
In relation to this, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire denied Pacquiao’s claim that the department is allegedly procuring near-expiry medicines.
“’Yun pong bumili para magkaroon ng discount ba, or I don’t know what kind of negotiations, I can say na wala po kaming mga ganyan na nabibili na mga supplies or gamot. Because we are following the existing policies and laws of government,” she said. – jlo
