By Azer Parrocha/PNA
MANILA — Malacañang on Monday said it would await findings of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) probe on three Cabinet members allegedly involved in corruption before making a decision to sack them.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this remark after PACC Commissioner Manuelito Luna bared that it is currently investigating Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, former Bureau of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Chairman Leonor Oralde-Quintayo.
“With regard to that, mag-antay kami kung ano ‘yung findings, kung ano rekomendasyon nila, kung may ebidensiya (We will await findings, their recommendation, if there is enough evidence). Then the President will act on it,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
Panelo reiterated the President’s policy that there are no sacred cows in his administration.
“You violate the law regardless of your status whether you’re a friend or ally or a political adversary or a relative or a friend or a fraternity brod, wala lahat ‘yun (it won’t matter). You violate the law, you are accountable,” Panelo said.
Panelo, however, said that the three Cabinet members would get to keep their posts while the investigation is ongoing.
At present, the PACC has yet to bare details regarding their investigation as it remains “confidential.”
The PACC will submit its recommendation to the President immediately after the investigation.
On October 4, 2017, the President signed Executive Order (EO) 43 creating the PACC to investigate graft and corruption against all presidential appointees in the Executive Branch.
The PACC has the power to hear and investigate administrative cases against all presidential appointees in the Executive Branch, including presidential appointees in the police and military, for acts of corruption.
It may conduct lifestyle checks and fact-finding inquiries of all presidential appointees, including those outside the Executive Branch, and submit its reports and recommendations to the President.
