Task Force vs corruption to tap auditors, prosecutors

MANILA, Philippines — The Task Force Against Corruption (TFAC) is studying efforts to deputize prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and auditors of the Commission on Audit (COA) as resident ombudsmen in certain “corruption-prone agencies” as part of efforts to eradicate graft in government.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra before the weekend said that member-agencies of the TFAC met on Wednesday and approved several guidelines and parameters for the evaluation and investigation of corruption complaints.

Guevarra said the members have also agreed to explore the idea of deploying independent resident ombudsman in government agencies prone to irregularities and corrupt practices.

“The TFAC also noted that several agencies had created or strengthened their internal anti-corruption mechanisms,” he said.

Asked about the initial reaction of the ombudsman on the proposed deployment of resident ombudsmen, Guevarra said that it was Ombudsman Samuel Martires who initially floated the idea.

“We shall refine this proposal further. The idea came from Ombudsman Martires himself. He explained that his office did not have enough manpower to revive the resident ombudsmen of the past,” Guevarra told reporters in a Viber message.

“On their part, both the DOJ and the COA expressed willingness to accept the ‘deputization’ by the ombudsman, subject to further discussion of the terms of the arrangement,” he added.

Guevarra, meanwhile, said the task force secretariat has presented to the TFAC some significant complaints received from various sources.

He said that the TFAC operations center is also expected to process complaints and reports on corruption more efficiently after the guidelines or parameters for the evaluation and investigation of corruption complaints were approved.