PACC chief wants to lower P50-M plunder threshold to P25M

Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission head Dante Jimenez on Thursday recommended lowering the threshold amount for plunder from P50 million to  P25M.

Jimenez strongly supports moves to re-impose death penalty in the country for plunderers.

"We are really in consonance with the proposal (na) ibalik ang death penalty sa mga plunderer, and we will be recommending na babaan 'yung threshold from P50 million to P25 million," Jimenez told news anchor Mike Enriquez on "Dobol B sa News TV."

Jimenez cited President Rodrigo Duterte's frustration over  corruption in government, which he took the time to express during his State of the Nation Address last month.

"Ang criminal justice system na ganito, napakabagal talaga. Bulok na bulok. That is why ang Presidente, bwisit na bwisit na rin sa sistema. We're talking here of a system na sinasabi ko na yung resolute conviction," Jimenez said.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo recently reiterated that the President prefers death penalty by hanging.

"Kailangan nating sampulan na merong mabitay. I agree with the president na para makatipid ang pilipinas, ano na lang, 'yung bitay 'yung talagang hanging," Jimenez said.

Earlier, the anti-crime commission announced it would conduct a lifestyle check on former and current officials of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) after Duterte issued a closure order on the agency's gaming operations due to the alleged massive corruption.

"Mga board of director, nagma-manage ng PCSO, executive officials, lahat po sila. At kung kailangan po ay dagdagan pa, puwede pa pong dagdagan yan," Jimenez said. —Margaret Claire Layug/LBG, GMA News