MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte expanded the power of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) in an executive power (EO) signed late last year but was made public recently.
In Duterte’s EO No. 73, PACC will now have the power to recommend to the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and to the President himself the filing of charges against officials tagged in corruption for further investigation.
“Nothing shall prevent the President, in the interest of the service, from directly investigating and/or hearing an administrative case against any presidential appointee or authorizing other offices under the Office of the President to do the same,” the EO said.
It also allowed the Office of the President to assume jurisdiction over any case being investigated by the PACC.
The EO came days after the PACC said it was investigating Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III, former Customs Commissioner and now Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Isidro Lapeña and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Chairman Leonor Oralde-Quintayo for corruption.
ARTA Deputy Director-General Ernesto Perez welcomed the issuance of the EO as it further strengthens ARTA’s collaboration and partnership with PACC in the drive against corruption.
“This (EO 73) will give ARTA more capabilities and opportunities to comply with its mandate to ensure the ease of doing business and help the people get better and more efficient government services and to investigate and recommend the filing of administrative and/or criminal charges in case of violations,” Perez said./PN
