‘Tough but fair on corruption’
Panelo says even Cabinet members not spared
Secretary Salvador Panelo on Saturday lauded the government’s anti-corruption campaign that had resulted to the sacking of several officials in the past five years.
The President’s chief legal counsel said during his daily online program “Counterpoint” that among those fired were several police and military officials. Even members of the Cabinet had not been spared due to perceived incompetence.
He said that Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) Commissioner Manuelito Luna was also fired because he wanted the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate Vice President Leni Robredo over questioned accusations.
“Because he (Luna) violated the rights of the Vice President, who is the President’s No.1 opponent among his critics, he was removed. That means, he (President Duterte) is impartial, even to his opponents.” Panelo said.
Panelo cited the task force created by Mr. Duterte to investigate the P15-billion PhilHealth corruption scandal, with the probe led by the Department of Justice.
The task force was given the marching order to probe former PhilHealth president and CEO Ricardo Morales, executive vice president and COO Arnel de Jesus, senior vice presidents Renato Limsiaco Jr. and Israel Francis Paragas.
Panelo said that taking the cue from the President, Dante Gierran, upon his appointment as PhilHealth president and CEO, started a cleansing process within the agency that saw 43 senior officers resigning or being given the boot.
The President’s lawyer also lauded the establishment of the 8888 Hotline where people may call to file complaints over bureaucratic red tape or outright corruption.
From 2017 to 2020, the center received 265,790 complaints from different sectors, with 177,244 acted upon by the concerned agencies, 39,412 under processing and 49,000 awaiting feedback.
Panelo pointed out that before the passage of Republic Act 11032, otherwise known as “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Services Delivery Act of 2018,” President Duterte already ordered all government agencies and local government units to simplify the bureaucratic processes, including the issuance of business permits.