Gordon doubts Duterte’s antigraft campaign

The Senate will keep on investigating complaints of irregularities in the Duterte administration even as senators began to express doubts about the government’s commitment to fight corruption.

Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee, lamented the government’s “dillydallying” on prosecuting people tagged in several Senate investigations.

“I am now left doubting that whenever the President speaks out against corruption,” Gordon told reporters. “I wonder if this is just a slogan? Or is it a reward? Is it real?”

He cited the government’s inaction on Senate recommendations to prosecute officials implicated in corruption controversies, including allegations of fraud in Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and the scandal on the Dengvaxia antidengue vaccine.

Nevertheless, Gordon said he would continue to push the prosecution of officials whose actions had been flagged by other government agencies, like the Commission on Audit (COA), that had uncovered evidence of irregularity.

He pledged to pursue Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ proposal to investigate the construction of the P9.5-billion sports facilities at the New Clark City in Tarlac under an agreement that the COA tagged as “suspicious.”

But Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Saturday said the administration was committed to prosecuting erring officials, but has to ensure it would not be pursued just to vilify those who are running for office in 2022.