PACC to submit initial report on DPWH probe to Duterte this week

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) is set to submit to President Rodrigo Duterte this week its initial report on the alleged corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)—including the supposed involvement of congressmen in the anomalous activities.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News on Tuesday, PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica was asked when his office is expected to finish its probe on DPWH.

“To finish [the probe] it will be a long time but we will submit our initial report this week. However, as to the list [of the congressmen involved], let me make a clarification that we don’t submit lists, we submit reports to the President,” Belgica said.

“Our investigation is geared towards DPWH. However, in investigating DPWH, we cannot be blind on the things that we discover and that includes alleged participation of lawmakers in the implementation of the projects in their districts,” he added.

Citing the Supreme Court and the Constitution, Belgica said that lawmakers should “make laws and pass the budget and should not have any interference in implementing the budget, however, may exercise oversight.”

“This is a similar case because the powers of the lawmakers in influencing the choice of district engineers and contractors within their district exposes the entire system to corruption,” Belgica said.

“That’s specifically why the Constitution separated the powers of the legislative body with the executive body. When the legislative body exercises power in implementation or interferes with the executive branch’s sole power to implement then, corruption can happen,” he added.

Belgica was earlier urged to name the lawmakers allegedly involved in corrupt activities in DPWH.

However, Belgica refused, saying that naming those involved would only “compromise” the anti-corruption body’s investigation.

“[A]s to the names, I don’t want to do blind items or a bulletin board or a noise board of our investigation,” he said.

“Kung sasabihin ko kung sino ang aming iniimbestigahan bago pa sa aming inquiry, or kung sino ang mga suspects, eh di parang sinabi po dun sa huhuliin na ay huhuliin na siya; and that will compromise the investigation,” he added.

(If I will name those who are currently investigating before our inquiry, or those named as the suspects, it’s as if we said to them that they are being arrested, and that will compromise the investigation.)

EDV