PACC to file cases against at least 3 officials ‘related’ to DOH

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) is set to file cases against at least three officials “related” to the Department of Health (DOH) as it also investigates nine cases of alleged irregularities at the agency, Commissioner Greco Belgica said Monday.

Belgica said the filing of cases is in line with PACC’s promise to file cases every week against high-ranking government officials. He said cases against 11 officials were filed last week. However, he did not disclose which agencies they belong to.

“Last week we filed [cases] against 11 officials. This week we will be filing again sa I think three or four officials related to DOH,” he told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

He did not also mention the names of the officials and the background of the cases that are set to be filed.

“Every week ‘yan, undersecretaries, heads of agencies, mapafilian namin. Sa Ombudsman ‘yan,” he added.

(This will be done every week. We will file cases even to undersecretaries and heads of agencies. This will be filed before the Ombudsman.)

Belgica said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III is aware of the investigations being conducted by PACC about the DOH.

“Sa DOH, siyam na kaso ang iniimbestigahan namin diyan at kasama naman si Secretary Duque doon [sa process of investigation]. Alam naman niya dahil sumasagot siya sa investigations namin,” he said.

(We are investigating nine cases at the DOH and Secretary Duque is involved in the process of investigation. He answers our investigations.)

Belgica cited the cases being investigated by PACC as Senator Manny Pacquiao urged the DOH to present an accounting of its expenses for the pandemic response.

Belgica said PACC is awaiting documents from Pacquiao regarding his claims that corruption was happening in other government agencies.

READ: Pacquiao adds DSWD, DOE, DENR ‍to his list of ‘corrupt’ agencies

JE