VP Sara Duterte pushes for use of digitalization vs. corruption

Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday declared that digitalization is the country’s weapon against corruption, saying it leaves no room for scrupulous backdoor transactions. 

“As we digitize, we automate our processes, make data and all government transactions seamless, borderless, and transparent, and we leave no room for scrupulous backdoor transactions,” Duterte said during the 51st Philippine Business Conference and Expo.

“We take away the power of corrupt leaders to manipulate public funds and capitalize on people’s money for their personal interests, greed, and political ambition,” she added.

The vice president said that technology will be a powerful tool to “impose checks and balances” and “prevent unconstitutional budget insertions.”

She issued this remark amid the ongoing investigation into anomalous flood control projects and budget insertions of lawmakers. 

The Anti-Money Laundering Council has frozen at least 2,800 accounts over anomalous flood control projects. Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) executive director and spokesperson Brian Hosaka said the value was estimated at P5 billion.

The Department of Justice has referred to the Office of the Ombudsman its recommendation to file graft, malversation, perjury and falsification of public documents charges against Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials of the Bulacan First District Engineering Office and contractors involved in five flood control projects.

Duterte, herself, is facing a complaint with the Ombudsman for the alleged misuse of P500 million in confidential funds of the OVP and P112.5 million in confidential funds of DepEd from 2022-2024.

This stemmed from the recommendation of the House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability to file charges against her.

She has filed her counter-affidavit answering the allegations. — BM, GMA Integrated News