Some congressmen also face complaints before corruption task force

MANILA, Philippines — At least two of the nine legislators linked to anomalous projects in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) also face complaints before the Task Force Against Corruption (TFAC), Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra reported yesterday.

Guevarra, who chairs the TFAC, said the two congressmen included in the PACC list were investigated by the task force for involvement in corruption.

He said the TFAC submitted to President Duterte an updated report on the investigation.

Guevarra refused to identify the two congressmen, saying the TFAC is still in the preliminary stage of the probe.

“The task force is still looking into the complaints against the congressmen. I do not want to mention names until we have found proof,” he said.

The TFAC will file charges before the Office of the Ombudsman once it gathers evidence and builds up cases by next year.

“We have until June 2022 to finish the task,” Guevarra said.

The TFAC will be operational until the end of President Duterte’s term in 2022. It was created to probe government officials involved in corruption.

Guevarra said he has not seen the PACC report which listed the names of House members allegedly in cahoots with DPWH district engineers involved in corruption.

“I am not sure if the PACC report is final and ready for filing with the ombudsman. If it is not final, the Office of the President may refer the report to the DOJ Task Force Against Corruption for validation, further investigation or case build-up,” he said.

Malacañang challenged the lawmakers linked to corruption to clear their names instead of throwing mud at the administration.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque issued the statement after former Ifugao congressman Teodoro Baguilat Jr. described as a diversionary tactic the President’s move to name the congressmen based on the list provided by the PACC.

“He is the one who is engaging in diversionary tactic. Former congressman Baguilat should just answer the allegations,” Roque said.

Roque asked Baguilat, “Did you connive with your district engineer to get ‘tongpats’ from your contractors?”

Roque also defended the President’s action, saying it is within his mandate under the Freedom of Information Act.

“It is not a trial by publicity because the President has been clear, they are presumed innocent until proven otherwise,” he said.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said they would implement President Duterte’s directive to relieve district engineers reportedly involved in alleged corruption with some members of the House of Representatives.

“The relief of district engineers due to corruption is not something new,” Villar said. “We have relieved several district engineers in the past. We evaluate the performance of engineers every month.”

Among the engineers mentioned by Duterte is someone from Occidental Mindoro has stayed in his post for 10 years. – Christina Mendez, Jose Rodel Clapano