Marcos, if elected, vows to ‘strengthen’ PCGG to target all corruption cases
Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
—LYN RILLON
MANILA, Philippines — Instead of the agency just training all its efforts against the Marcoses’ ill-gotten wealth, presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday he will strengthen the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) to target all graft and corruption cases in the government if he gets elected in the upcoming elections.
In an interview with CNN Philippines aired Tuesday, Marcos was asked about his plans for the PCGG should he be elected.
“Strengthen it. Ang pinag-uusapan mo yung corruption, graft and corruption. ‘Yan ang trabaho nila, pagtibayin mo. Give them bigger budget. Give them more staff para habul-habulin talaga nila lahat. Then mag-file sila ng kaso sa Ombudsman,” Marcos Jr. said.
PCGG, a quasi-judicial body, has the primary mandate of recovering the ill-gotten wealth accumulated by his father and namesake, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., his immediate family, relatives, subordinates and close associates.
Asked how he will strengthen the agency, Marcos Jr. said: “Instead of directing themselves against the Marcoses only, I mean if I have–kung mayroon akong corrupt na kamag-anak, edi lalabas yung pangalan n’ya. But not only us, lahat.”
According to Marcos, times have changed and the PCGG can be utilized to go after erring public officials.
“Kasi nasa ibang panahon na tayo e. Hindi na ‘yun ang issue e. Ang issue is just graft and corruption in the government. They’re already there, edi gamitin mo na,” Marcos Jr. said.
“Patibayin mo pa para mayroon ka talagang agency na walang ginawa kundi nagbabantay na walang gumagawa ng kalokohan,” he added.
According to the accomplishment report of the PCGG, it has so far recovered P172.4 billion. It is still trying to recover more than P125 billion more of the family’s ill-gotten wealth, which is still tied up in litigation.
Meanwhile, on the issue of his family’s ill-gotten wealth, he said he will let the courts do their work.
“Let the courts do their work. Kami naman lagi naming sinasabi, if the court orders us to do something, we will do it. So, let the courts do their work,” Marcos Jr. said.
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