Go eyes Task Force vs corruption
WHOLE- OF GOV’T APPROACH
The President is exasperated. Corruption is like a pandemic that keeps gnawing at the very fiber of our existence
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go will recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte the creation of an Inter-Agency Task Force that will employ a whole-of-government approach in the fight against deep-rooted, systemic corruption in the bureaucracy.
Go’s initiative comes on the heels of continuing corruption in numerous agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs (BoC), PhilHealth and even in the agriculture sector through reported rice smuggling.
“The President is exasperated.
Corruption is like a pandemic that keeps gnawing at the very fiber of our existence. It is important to rid the government of these scalawags as quickly as possible to stem its spread in the bureaucracy,” he explained.
Go said the proposed task force may be modeled after the previous task force created to investigate PhilHealth. Its scope, however, should cover all government agencies and should be allowed to operate until President Duterte ends his term in 2022.
The former Presidential aide said he recently discussed the matter with the president who gave directives to intensify further the campaign against corruption and put an end to the continuing existence of anomalous practices plaguing the bureaucracy.
It is important to rid the government of these scalawags as quickly as possible to stem its spread in the bureaucracy.
“The president wants those responsible charged in his remaining one year and eight months in office,” Go shared, adding that the government will not hesitate to crack down on all forms of corruption “from smuggling in BoC, pastillas scheme in Immigration, anomalies in PhilHealth and DPWH, all of them!”
Go emphasized that President Duterte enjoys overwhelmingly high approval ratings because Filipinos see the sincerity and seriousness of his leadership to improve public service delivery by putting an end to corruption, criminality and illegal drugs.
In his previous pronouncements, President Duterte pointed out the presence of corruption in the DPWH, prompting DPWH Secretary Mark Villar to come up with an internal special task force that will look into these allegations.
Go lauded Villar’s decision, calling it a step in the right direction, but recommended that a whole-of-government approach is necessary to solve this issue.
Eradicating corruption, he said, must involve all concerned agencies, with the help of the Ombudsman, Commission on Audit, the Presidential Ant i - Corruption Commission, as well as all branches of government.
Similar to the Task Force on PhilHealth, Go recommends that this inter-agency body will be mandated to investigate all agencies plagued by systemic corruption, prosecute and file charges, audit funds, conduct lifestyle checks, recommend suspensions, and put in jail those proven guilty.
Go said that there should be “no sacred cows” and every official must take responsibility in cleansing their ranks. He also recommended imposing preventive suspensions on suspected corrupt officials in order to preserve the integrity of the probe.
The senator highlighted the need to conduct lifestyle checks to identify government workers who live beyond their means.
By encouraging the public to take a stand and report anomalies, Go believes public servants will adhere more to the values and standards set forth in Republic Act 6713, otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.