Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra has identified 5 government agencies which the mega task force has prioritized in accordance with the directive of President Rodrigo R. Duterte on eradicating corruption in government.
The said government agencies are the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and the Land Registration Authority (LRA). The steps to be undertaken are now being prepared.
According to a member of the mega task force member and Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Greco Belgica, “Secretary Guevarra and I have already spoken, exchanged text messages. NBI and I have already spoken. May sinesetup na kami (We are setting up something) in preparation for the full implementation of the task force. The fight against corruption was weaponized, built up.”
The PACC will submit two new reports to the President this week including the list of the staff and officials of the DPWH with several lawmakers whom they have been monitoring for possible involvement in corruption.
Belgica reiterated that the investigation on PhilHealth is still ongoing, “It’s a welcome development for that, kasi hindi pa po tapos ang aming investigation diyan, (we are not yet done with our investigation there) both PACC and Task Force Philhealth. ‘Yung amin pong ipinasa noong una (The first submission) was just one case that we investigated. Right now, the PACC has 8 new cases that it is investigating.”
Report from Mela Lesmoras
