Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — “Someone might be interested in my post,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III had this to say on Wednesday after the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) launched an investigation against him over allegations of corruption.
“Sa totoo lang, wala ‘kong nakikitang dahilan except na meron siguro(ng) nag-iinteres sa posisyon ko,” Bello said over a Radyo Inquirer interview.
(“I don’t see any reason behind these accusations except someone might be interested in my position.”)
“Akala siguro nila may ginto dito sa Department of Labor (Dole) at dyan sila nagkakamali. Dito sa Department of Labor, labor ang mayroon, walang ginto. Kung gusto n’yo ay kumita ‘wag sa department ko… Huwag kayong umasa na meron kayong makotong dito,” he added.
(“They probably think that there’s gold here in the Department of Labor. That’s where they’re wrong. Here, we only have labor. If you want to earn, don’t do it in my department. Don’t expect that you could earn kickbacks here.”)
PACC earlier bared they received complaints accusing Bello of extorting money from manpower agencies sending workers abroad.
READ: Bello linked to extortion, says PACC exec
The commission also said they were investigating former Bureau of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña and National Commission on Indigenous People Chairman Leonor Oralde-Quintayo.
Bello argued that he was neither aware of the complaint nor was he given the chance to air his side.
But PACC Chair Manuelito Luna belied the Labor chief’s claims, saying the complaint was filed in 2018.
On Tuesday, Bello said he would ask President Rodrigo Duterte to dismiss Luna for abuse of authority for divulging the corruption probe to the public. /cbb
READ: Bello seeking dismissal of anti-corruption commissioner