MANILA, Philippines — House appropriations panel chairperson Eric Yap said Thursday he will propose before the bicameral conference committee to cut — or even scrap — the budget of government agencies proven to be engaging in corrupt activities.
In an interview with reporters, Yap said his committee will have its own investigation on various government agencies after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct a government-wide probe amid allegations of corruption.
Yap said the appropriation committee’s investigation will be held before the bicameral conference committee — composed of representatives from the House and the Senate — would meet to harmonize the proposed national budget for 2021.
“Meron kaming oversight functions as appropriations chair na siguraduhing yung mga pondong binibigay natin sa kanila, nagagamit sa tama, hindi sa corruption,” Yap said.
“We will conduct our own investigation sa ngayon. And then kung mapapatunayan natin yung mga agencies na involved sa corruption, pagdating sa bicam ay talagang isu-suggest ko sa Senate at as ibang kasamahan ko sa Congress, tanggalan ng budget itong agency na ito dahil punong-puno ng corruption, ilipat sa agencies na mas nangangailangan,” he added.
One of the government agencies that Yap cited was the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
According to Yap, while there seemed to have been improvements in the bureau under the leadership of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, his office has still been receiving reports of corrupt practices in the agency.
“Nabawasan yung nagsusumbong pero hindi pa rin maiwasan yung mga ibang mga brokers na sumusulat sa opisina natin,” Yap said.
“Papa-imbestigahan namin ito kahit naka-break kami at kung mapapatunayan na talagang sino ‘yung mga sangkot dito, may mga pangalan, may mga ebidensya ay baka sa bicam tanggalan natin ng budget, bawasan natin ang budget ng Customs dahil sa tingin ko, kung hindi nila maco-correct ito, bakit natin sila bibigyan ng budget?” the lawmaker added.
Yap likewise mentioned probing the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Department of Transportation (DOTr).
But will his committee have enough time to conduct the investigations before the bicameral conference committee meets?
Yap said their investigation can be done while the Senate is scrutinizing the 2021 budget.
“Itong investigation natin two weeks, three weeks habang naghe-hearing ang Senate and pag umabot siya sa bicam, isu-suggest ko tanggalan natin ng pondo o bawasan natin ng pondo yung agencies na punong-puno ng corruption at ilagay natin sa mga agencies na mas nangangailangan,” he said.
“But then again, kung hindi aabot sa bicam pagdating ng 2021, ipapatawag pa rin natin yung mga agencies na yun at ku-kwestyunin natin sila kung saan dinala yung pondo,” he added.
Nonetheless, Yap assured that the investigation will not affect the timely passage of the proposed 2021 budget.
Speaker Lord Allan Velasco earlier backed Duterte’s directive for conduct of the government-wide corruption probe.
“We fully understand that the President is doing this out of his frustration over chronic corruption in government, and the House leadership is one with him in his desire to rid the bureaucracy of corrupt officials and employees in the remainder of his term,” Velasco said.
Duterte’s directive came after the alleged corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) earlier claimed that some lawmakers are involved in the corrupt activities in the DPWH.