Bello says he doesn't know he's under PACC probe

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Tuesday said he did not know that he was being investigated by Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), according to a report on News To Go.

The report quoted Bello as saying that he did not receive a copy of any complaint against him. He however said he is ready to face any investigation.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, for his part, cautioned against publicizing an ongoing investigation.

"Hindi mo dapat ilalabas agad 'yun kasi otherwise you might be unnecessarily maligning a reputation na walang basis eventually. Kawawa rin naman," he told reporters.

Panelo said the person subject of a complaint should be given the chance to refute the allegations.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV earlier in the day, PACC Commissioner Manuelito Luna said Bello is facing three complaints filed by recruitment agency owners.

Luna said PACC will give Bello the chance to defend himself against the allegations.

“We will give Secretary Bello a chance to refute these allegations dahil hindi naman kami nagko-conclude ng anything until we hear his side as a matter of due process,” he said.

Bello, in a radio interview, said he will ask President Rodrigo Duterte to fire Luna over alleged grave abuse of authority. Told about Bello's plan, Panelo said: "That's the call of Secretary Bello. That will be his wish to the President."

"Si Presidente ang kinakampihan lang 'yung nasa tama," Panelo added.

Aside from Bello, TESDA Director General Isidro Lapeña is also under PACC investigation for possible neglect of duty in connection with the smuggling of billions of pesos worth of shabu during his stint as Customs commissioner.

“Motu proprio ang aming investigation diyan, kasi walang formal complaint against him. In fact, he was cleared by the Senate. We will decide if we will clear him of any neglect of duty,” Luna said of Lapeña.

The cases faced by Lapeña were administrative and not criminal, Luna said.

“Hindi po criminal ang ini-imbestigahan namin kay Secretary Lapeña. It is purely administrative,” he said.

Meanwhile, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Chairman Leonor Quintayo is facing serious complaints, according to Luna.

"Medyo seryoso 'yung accusations du'n. May dalawang complaint sa kanya at tsaka sa ilang commissioners ng NCIP,” Luna said.

Several IP leaders filed complaints of corruption against Quintayo and other NCIP commissioners.

“It has something to do with sa pagkampi raw ng NCIP sa isang grupo na hindi raw legitimate na grupo ng IP," Luna said. “Then 'yung share nila, itong legitimate group, hindi ni-release for several years amounting to millions of pesos.”

This supposedly prompted the said IP leaders to file corruption complaints against Quintayo. —Joviland Rita and Virgil Lopez/KBK/KG, GMA News