By Gabriela Baron
Senator Risa Hontiveros scored on Wednesday, Sept. 14, the proposed abolition of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), calling the move “self-destruction.”
In a statement, Hontiveros maintained that PCGG has been “an effective retrieval body” and any attempt to abolish it will affect “all of the government’s anti-corruption efforts.”
“PCGG remains equally relevant today as it was at its conception. It stands to recover trillions more. Leave the PCGG alone, and let them do their job as they have for the past 36 years. Our duty in the government is to fully support their mandate,” she added.
Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante Jr. filed House Bill No. 4331, seeking to abolish the PCGG, arguing that it has “not produced significant accomplishment [and] has outgrown its usefulness.”
If the bill passes, the functions of the PCGG will be transferred to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
However, Hontiveros argued that the anti-corruption agency’s function will only “shrink further [the] government’s powers to carry out the recovery effectively.”
“Kung nahihirapan na nga ang PCGG on its own, what more kung nakalista lamang ito sa mga napakaraming responsibilidad ng DOJ?” she added.
In a Senate hearing Wednesday, Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Senate and the House of Representative should both agree on the fate of PCGG.
“Ang abolition po nito [PCGG] ay kailangang dalawang Kamara po talaga ang magkasundo kung ito po ay tapusin na ang buhay ang PCGG,” Remulla said.
He added that the PCGG could be converted into the Forfeited Assets Management Office.
“Marahil sumambulat na po ang new chapter sa atin, marahil palakihin po natin ang papel ng PCGG para meron pa po itong ibang magawa… Sana po mas maagamit po ito ng republika sa kabutihan din ng ating republika,” Remulla continued.
“Ito po ang ating suggestion, na gawing Forfeited Assets Management Office kasi dito na po nasanay ang PCGG, marahil makinabang po tayo sa pag-handle ng ganito pong mga asset.” –ag
