Guevarra identifies 5 agencies to prioritize in corruption probe

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra initially identified five agencies that his task force will prioritize in the conduct of investigation into corruption activities in the entire government.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV on Wednesday, Guevarra said the following agencies will be the target of the investigation team, which will be led by the Department of Justice:

• Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)
• Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
• Bureau of Customs (BOC)
• Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
• Land Registration Authority (LRA)

Given the monumental task ahead, Guevarra said they are hoping to "produce something" in the next couple of months.

“We are hoping in the next couple of months we'll be able to produce something as a sign that the task force is actually doing its job,” he said.

Guevarra, who has been given until the end of the President's term in June 2022 to complete the probe, noted that an investigation has already started in some of these agencies, while some of them were already called out by President Rodrigo Duterte in his public address over alleged corruption.

As Duterte directed, he said the task force should consider the magnitude of funds involved and its impact on the delivery of government services in choosing what cases to pursue.

“Ayon doon sa memorandum na in-issue ng Presidente sa akin na i-consider ng task force 'yung gravity o magnitude nu'ng anomalya o corrupt activity,” Guevarra said.

“So we're talking here about values, magnitude of the funds involved, possible impact on the delivery of government services, to be considered in choosing kung alin ang iimbestigahan ng task force,” he added.

In a public address aired on Tuesday, Duterte ordered the inter-agency task force led by the DOJ to investigate corruption in the entire government.

Guevarra said on Tuesday this was the "toughest" assignment he has received from the chief executive.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Tuesday said the House of Representatives is fully supportive of Duterte's order to investigate corruption in the entire government. —KG/KBK, GMA News