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Duterte creates anti-corruption commission


President Rodrigo Duterte has created a presidential commission against graft and corruption.

Duterte on October 4 signed Executive Order No. 43, creating the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.

“There is a need to create a separate commission under the Office of the President solely dedicated to providing assistance to the President in the investigation and hearing of administrative cases and complaints, and in the conduct of lifestyle checks and/or fact-finding inquiries concerning presidential appointees and other public officers allegedly involved in graft and corrupt practices, or have committed other higher crimes and/or violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees,” the EO read.

The EO said the commission would have "power, on a complaint, or motu proprio, and concurrently with the Office of the Ombudsman to hear, investigate, receive, gather, and evaluate evidence, intelligence reports, and information in administrative cases against all presidential appointees."

It said that the President could probe his appointees even outside the Executive branch.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said in a message to reporters that the President would submit the reports of lifestyle checks to Congress or the proper disciplining authority, especially for impeachable officials.

“EO 43, the President as appointing authority is not prohibited by law or by the Constitution to conduct lifestyle checks on his own appointees, but will not usurp the power to discipline certain independent Constitutional officers such as the Ombudsman and judicial officials,” he said. 

“The President may conduct inquiries on all his appointees, and submit his findings to the proper disciplining authority (e.g., to Congress, for possible impeachment),” he added.

Duterte will appoint a chairperson and four commissioners who all must be members of the Philippine Bar and has practiced law for at least five years to form the commission. — MDM/KBK, GMA News

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