PRESIDENT DUTERTE has admitted that corruption in government has worsened, but he vowed to fight it the last remaining years of his term which ends in 2022.
Duterte said the country continues to be plagued with corruption despite his efforts to stop it.
“Alam mo hanggang ngayon corruption pa rin ang problema. I have made a pledge if I remember two sessions, three sessions ago, that I will concentrate the last remaining years of my term fighting corruption kasi hanggang ngayon hindi humihina, lumalakas pa lalo. Para na tuloy naging inutil ang mga opisyal ng bayan na wala talagang magawa with the onslaught of corruption,” Duterte said.
Among the government agencies laden with corruption allegations are the Philippine Health Insurance Corpotation (PhilHealth), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Many PhilHealth officials have already resigned from their posts following the scandals in the advance payment to private hospitals.
However, Duterte said resigned officials are not yet off the hook as he ordered a thorough investigation into the corruption mess. “Hindi po ako naniniwala na wala akong magawa. May magawa ako. Hindi naman siguro to eradicate corruption in its totality. But I think kami, Cabinet members, nandito man sila nakikinig, in our own — not small — but in our dedication, we would come up a very strong stand against corruption.”
“Eradication maybe a part but not all. Pero talagang hihirit ako. Ang una kong sinabi sabi ko yayariin ko kayo ‘yung sa PhilHealth at tinotoo ko talaga. Marami na ngayon sa kanila na tinanggal, ‘yung iba nag-resign. But let me remind everybody in this government na your resignation will not save your neck. Alam mo bakit? You are not allowed to resign if there is a pending case against you. Mag-resign ka man hindi ka mag-report but then you would be summoned or subpoenaed not because you are already out of government but because for all intents and purposes you are still a part of government. You are not allowed to resign to escape liability,” he said.
Duterte also ordered the creation of a “mega task force” to investigate corruption allegations in all government agencies and file charges against those involved in the nefarious activities.
“And this is my second call for a total campaign against corruption. Iyong Task Force na nabuo ko — puro man abugado ‘yon, puro engineer, puro doktor — this time we will look into every department. But upon my request, behest, to focus sa corruption sa DPWH. Let me state here and now that I have nothing against Secretary Villar. He is one of the hardworking at maraming accomplishments si Secretary Villar. But you know accomplishments alone to me should not suffice para na sa akin, hindi na kay Secretary Villar, because it’s not his job to be running after crooks. But it behooves upon me to see to it na itong corruption mahinto kung hindi ma — at least maputol na nang kaunti. So we are expanding the investigation sa corruption sa agriculture with special focus sa DPWH. And as the same, I will order your suspension. I need not go to court. Sabi ko nga itong presidency hindi naman inutil kasi kung inutil ako, aalis na ako dito, ibigay ko na sa iba,” Duterte said.
Four years into his presidency and rhetorical statements and warnings against corrupt officials, Duterte admitted his failure in eradicating corruption in government.
“Kung naging inutil man ako noon maybe we were too busy looking for money. Ngayon na may kaunting may maipakita kami sa inyo...And I will allow the secretaries to continue with their projects — you still have my full support. But ang focus ko ngayon, the Office of the President itself, will be against corruption. So in the coming days expect itong suspension not — kasi kung i-suspend kita may duda ako. Hindi ako mag-suspend ng tao na walang kasalanan.”
“It would be expanded with the relentless energy. If need be, kukuha ako ng marami pang abugado. Tutal iilang buwan na lang ‘yan, buwanan na lang ‘yan. But to the very last day, may i-suspend pa ako siguro na mga empleyado. Now, that is very clear. I do not think that you receive the message equivocal. It has only one impact,” he said.
But even before the mega task force headed by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra could start investigating corruption in government, Duterte has virtually cleared DOH Secretary Francisco Duque and DPWH Secretary Mark Villar of any corruption allegations.
Even in the past, several presidential appointees who were accused of corruption were only assigned to other government agencies or in Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations. (Mindanao Examiner)
