Pacquiao wants to beef up PCGG

Presidential aspirant and Senator Manny Pacquiao on Friday said he would strengthen the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) if elected president in the May 2022 elections.

At the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas Presidential Candidates Forum, Pacquiao pointed out that whatever belongs to the government should be given to the government.

Created in 1986, the PCGG is tasked in recovering alleged ill-gotten wealth by former President Ferdinand Marcos, his immediate family and relatives, as well as subordinates and close associates. In June 2018, the PCGG said it recovered over P171 billion in ill-gotten wealth

Pacquiao was asked about his plans with PCGG, which is still running after around P125 billion of ill-gotten from the Marcos family.

“Palakasin po natin ang PCGG at kailangan ang para sa gobyerno, sa gobyerno,” he said.

“Kung yan ang decision ng Supreme Court, may decision na may ninanakaw ka, ibalik mo. Kaya naghihirap ang bansa natin dahil sa mga  magnanakaw diyan sa gobyerno,” he added.

(If that’s the decision of the Supreme Court, there is a decision that you have stolen something, return it. This is why our country is in poverty, because of thieves in the government.)

Asked if his handing out money to people before the campaign period is somehow contributing to the culture of corruption in the country, Pacquiao defended that he has been doing this since 2002.

“Hindi po. Wala pa pong eleksyon (No, it is not elections yet),” he said.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao said his plan on lowering the corporate income tax to 15% flat would be implemented gradually as the income revenue of the government may also suffer for this.

But, he pointed out that his proposal in boosting the non-tax income revenue in the country would make up for the lowering of corporate taxes.

Asked about funding for his proposed housing program for 1.9 million informal settlers, he would go after corrupt politicians to save about P500 billion every year that can be used for the construction of homes.

“Kapag  maka-save tayo ng  P500 billion a year, in three years, mabibigyan po natin sila ng pabahay (If we save P500 billion a year, in three years, we can provide housing), he said.

He was also asked about the supply of tuna in his hometown General Santos City, Pacquiao said it slightly decreased, but noted that there is still enough supply.

“Kailangan po nating suportahan at mapalakas ang mga mangingisda natin (We need to support and empower our fishermen),” he said. — RSJ, GMA News