MANILA, Philippines — Several lawmakers hit Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Manuelito Luna on Thursday over its call for the National Bureau of Investigation to probe Vice President Leni Robredo for “illegal solicitations” and for supposedly competing with the national government’s efforts against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
Kabayan Party List Rep. Ron Salo said the PACC has no administrative jurisdiction over the Vice President since Robredo is not a presidential appointee, thus it’s recommendation to the NBI has “no probative value.”
Following Luna’s logic, Salo said that this means other organizations in the private sector that have initiated donation drives may likewise face probes or be criminally charged.
“PCFI (Partylist Coalition Foundation, Inc.) officers and members are also at risk of getting criminally charged with NBI for our own donation drive. Maghanda na tayo. Iba nagagawa ng COVID-19 (We should be ready. COVID-19 can do things),” he told reporters.
AKO BICOL Partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin, meanwhile, said the pronouncement of the PACC “smacks of bad faith and reeks of insensitivity to the plight of ordinary Filipinos, the doctors and nurses and other frontliners.”
“Magtulungan tayo bilang isang bansa, bilang kapwa Pilipino. Hindi porke kalabang partido ay pipigilan mo tumulong. Hindi ito kompetensya bagkos bayanihan ito para sa ikabubuti nating lahat,” Garbin said.
(Let’s help each other as one country, as Filipinos. You cannot stop one from helping just because he/she is from an opposing party. This is not a competition but rather a “bayanihan” to benefit everyone.)
“Walang pinipiling kulay, lahi, pagkatao o partido ang kalaban natin. Yan din dapat ang tindig natin. Wala din dapat tayong pinipili sa ating mga tinutulungan at sa mga tumutulong. Iisa ang layunin, iisa ang nasa puso,” he added.
(Our opponent does not choose what race or party you are in. That should be our stand. We should not choose who to help and who will help. We only have one goal that’s in our heart.)
Garbin likewise reminded Luna of PACC’s mandate.
Citing Executive Order No. 43, s. 2017 and its amendment Executive Order No. 73, s. 2018, Garbin said that PACC’s mandate is limited to the following:
Directly assist the President in investigating and/or hearing administrative cases primarily involving graft and corruption against all presidential appointees, as defined in Sec. 5 thereof, and to perform such other similar duties as the President may direct; and conduct lifestyle checks and fact-finding inquiries on acts and omissions of all covered presidential employees, inside and outside of the executive branch of the government, which may be violative of the Constitution, or contrary to law, rules, and regulations, and/or constitute serious misconduct tantamount to betrayal of public trust.
“As it appears, the PACC has exceeded its jurisdiction and authority and for what purpose? Kaya nasisira ang pangalan nang gobyerno dahil sa mga ganito (Things like this is the reason the reputation of the government is being tarnished),” Garbin said.
“We request the PACC to stay within the bounds of its mandate and to do its part in helping the nation by going out of its way by securing, in whatever capacity, food for the People and PPEs for the frontliners,” the lawmaker added.
If the PACC wants to probe Robredo, Garbin said that they could do it once the crisis is over.
Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Mike Defensor, meanwhile, asked the NBI to “please stop this stupidity.”
Defensor said that the NBI should instead go after hoarders of medical equipment and food items amid the pandemic.
“They (NBI) should help in making sure that the lockdowns are effected and (barangay) and local officials are doing their respective jobs. They should go after syndicates soliciting donations,” Defensor said.
“They should stop investigating people trying to help, less it is perceived as political. They should not burden the President with these acts while we are all trying to help fight this disease,” he added.
In a statement, Luna said the NBI should probe Robredo “for illegal solicitations, actions that compete with or calculated to undermine, national government efforts in this time of public health emergency or national calamities.”
Aside from accepting donations, Luna also came under fire for questioning Robredo’s efforts to provide free shuttle services, distribution of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for health workers, among others.