The Task Force Against Corruption (TFAC) is ready to investigate the nine former and current legislators named by President Duterte as being involved in corrupt activities, Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday.
Guevarra made the assurance after Duterte disclosed the identities of the nine during a televised public address Monday night based on the report submitted by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to the Office of the President (OP).
“I’m not sure if the PACC report to the President is complete by itself (I have not seen it) and is ready for filing with the Office of the Ombudsman,” the secretary said.
“If not, the OP may refer the report to the DoJ Task Force Against Corruption for validation, further investigation, or case build-up,” he assured.
If the PACC report is already complete with supporting evidence, Guevarra said “pwedeng derecho na ‘yun sa OMB.”
“I’ll wait for OP’s referral, if ever,” the secretary said.
During the televised address, Duterte identified the nine allegedly involved in corrupt activities as Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Sato, former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr, Quezon City 5th District Rep. Alfred Vargas, Misamis Occidental 2nd District Rep. Henry Oaminal, Isabela 4th District Rep. Alyssa Tan, Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Paul Daza, Quezon 4th District Rep. Angelina Tan, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap, and Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman.
On the other hand, Duterte assured the nine former and current legislators that he is not picking a fight with them.
“To the members of Congress, I do not want a quarrel with you. We are independent of each other and this is not really my work…so that you would know this is in obedience maybe to my call for people who know of corruption kasi talagang exasperated ako sa corruption ng gobyerno,” he said.
“This is not indictment, this is not to destroy you, but be careful because you might… It works both ways. There might be somebody using your name or gumagawa hindi mo alam pagkatapos nire-report doon,” he added.
Duterte also revealed that he also relieved a number of public works district engineers allegedly involved in anomalous projects.
