Malacañang said yesterday President Duterte would order an independent investigation on two members of his Cabinet who were allegedly involved in corrupt practices as claimed by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement after the PACC said in a radio interview that they discovered that two Cabinet secretaries were involved in corruption.
In an interview in Malacañang, Panelo said that the Office of the President has yet to receive a report from the PACC. However, he said that Duterte would still validate the report once they receive it.
“Na kay Presidente ‘yan. Siyempre, papa-imbestigahan ni Presidente. Ipapa-validate niya,” he said. “Siyempre, may independent pang validation,” he added.
Last August, PACC Commissioner and spokesperson Greco Belgica said they were investigating two Cabinet members for corruption due to complaints received by their office.
He, however, declined to identify the Cabinet members, saying it did not mean that they were already corrupt just because there were complaints against them.
He also refused to give specific details about the accusations but said the complaints were filed by private persons.
“It’s unfair to mention them and make them appear corrupt. Hindi dahil sinampahan ka ng kaso, guilty ka na po,” Belgica said.
Belgica said that the officials have been cooperative in the PACC’s probe, which was already near completion when he made the statement.
He said that once the PACC concluded their investigation and if they found basis, they would submit a report to the President and file a case before the Ombudsman. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
