Bello seeking dismissal of anti-corruption commissioner

MANILA, Philippines – Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Tuesday said he will ask President Rodrigo Duterte to dismiss Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Manuelito Luna for abuse of authority for making public an investigation against him and two other Cabinet officials.

Bello was reacting to the allegations of corruption against him and former Bureau of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña and National Commission on Indigenous People Chairman Leonor Oralde-Quintayo, which was revealed by Luna.

Luna said allegations of corruption were brought to their office in 2018 which prompted them to initiate an investigation on the Cabinet members.

READ: PACC probes 3 Cabinet members

Bello claimed that under the Executive Order that created PACC, the commission should pursue its investigations in a discreet manner.

“Wala naman akong natatanggap na complaint, wala akong natatanggap na notice mula sa PACC, sasagutin ko ‘yung reklamo e hindi ko nga alam, nalaman ko lang sa diyaryo na may reklamo laban sa akin,” Bello said in an interview over dzMM.

(I did not receive a complaint. I did not receive a notice from PACC, I can face the complaints if I am aware of such, but I only learned about it in newspapers).

“Under the executive order creating ‘yung PACC, ‘yung pag-iimbestiga should be discreet in fairness to the respondents. Inuunahan naman niya (Luna). That is why I’m going to ask the President to dismiss him from office for grave abuse of authority,” Bello added.

Duterte, a known ally of Bello, has repeatedly vowed to fire government officials even on the slightest “whiff of corruption.” /gsg