PACC seeks establishment of anti-corruption command centers in gov’t agencies

The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) on Friday launched an initiative that will establish anti-corruption command centers in government agencies as part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s bid to weed out irregularities for the remainder of his term.

PACC chairman Greco Belgica said “Project Kasangga” will require the “establishment of a command center… from the national to the lowest level of your bureaucracy to be manned by your own designated personnel.”

“It will be the focal office in monitoring, reporting, [and] the resolution of corruption cases,” he said in a forum with the Department of Health (DOH) for the signing of an anti-corruption manifesto, pledge of cooperation, and oath of honesty.

The project seeks to reduce corruption incidence, cascade anti-corruption advocacies, and speed up the detection and resolution of graft and corruption cases.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III vowed that the DOH will cooperate with the PACC’s anti-corruption initiatives.

“Sisiguraduhin po natin na ang pinto ng DOH ay laging bukas kung may kinakailangan ang PACC, magsagawa ng imbestigasyon, susuportahan po natin ito hangga’t sa magkaroon ng malinaw na katapusan or conclusion,” he said.

(We will make sure that the DOH’s door is always open for the PACC. We will support investigations until there is a clear conclusion.)

Last year, Duterte ordered a Department of Justice-led task force to probe the entire government for corruption. Several government personnel have been dismissed over alleged involvement in anomalies since then.

The Office of the Ombudsman already has the power to probe complaints against government officials involving grave offenses or large sums of money and properties.

Data gathered by the GMA News Research team last year found that at least 11 high ranking government officials resigned amid a corruption controversy while around nine were fired.

Some officials who were sacked over corruption allegations have also been reappointed to a different post.—AOL, GMA News