DENR taps VACC in anti-corruption drive

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has tapped the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) to go after and prosecution of corrupt officials and employees of the department.

The signing of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) on Monday was led by DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu and VACC president Dante Jimenez.

"We want the DENR to completely break away from its reputation as one of the most corrupt government agencies, and I believe that the VACC will help us achieve that," Cimatu said.

Jimenez said it is the first time that the VACC has "signed an agreement with a department or an agency that is like an IRR (implementing rules and regulations)," that gives clear actions for the eradication of environmental crime and corruption.

Under the MoA, the VACC will assist in gathering, reporting, referring and submitting names or pieces of evidence to the DENR pertaining to its officials and employees who are involved in anomalies, corruption and crimes.

The VACC also agreed to assist victims and witnesses against erring DENR personnel.