THE Department of Justice (DOJ)-led task force against corruption (TFAC) has not received any complaint even from Senator Manny Pacquiao who accused the government, particularly the Department of Health (DOH), of irregularities in handling resources for the Covid-19 pandemic response.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the task force’s midyear report submitted to the President on June 9, 2021 showed it had received at least 220 complaints of alleged corrupt activities in government, but none of them pertains to alleged mishandling in relation to the pandemic.
Other complaints were directed against several local government units (LGUs) followed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Guevarra noted that “many of the complaints were about anomalous transactions perpetrated jointly by these LGUs and district engineering offices,” he added.
The TFAC also noted a large number of complaints against the Land Registration Authority (LRA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Bureau of Customs (BoC).
There were also complaints against several Government- Owned and -Controlled Corporation (GOCCs).
“Excepts for complaints relating to Dengvaxia and PhilHealth, the TFAC has not received so far any complaints against the DOH, particularly in connection with anti-Covid 19 pandemic expenditures,” Guevarra said.
Pacquiao cites DOH
Irked by Pacquiao’s previous statement alleging corruption in his administration, President Duterte challenged Paquiao to name these corrupt agencies or else he would campaign against him in the national elections, calling him a “liar” if he cannot substantiate his accusations.
Pacquiao, president of the PDP- Laban where Duterte is chairman, has been at loggerheads with a party faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
Late Tuesday, Pacquiao accepted Duterte’s challenge and publicly mentioned the DOH as the agency that should be investigated for its spending. He said he will be ready with more details soon.
Pacquiao said the DOH should be scrutinized for its purchase of rapid test kits, personal protective equipment (PPEs), facemasks and other vital supplies for pandemic response.
The TFAC, which was created last year in a bid of the Duterte administration to address graft and corruption in the government, has so far endorsed 15 cases to the Office of the Ombudsman for further investigation; 15 other cases have been referred to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for case build-up and possible criminal investigation.
The rest were referred to other pertinent government agencies for the conduct of administrative investigation.