Aguirre supports PCGG abolition

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II yesterday expressed support for plans to abolish the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).

Aguirre agreed with the observations of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno that the agency created three decades ago was mandated to recover ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family and their cronies. Diokno had said the PCGG has served its purpose. Aguirre said the PCGG, an attached agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ), have started to wrap up operations.

“It won’t last long anyway. If the agency is abolished and absorbed by our department, there will be no difference because it’s been winding up operations under the DOJ since it’s an attached agency,” Aguirre explained.

He added that even the corporations under the custody and receivership of the PCGG are also winding up operations.

Diokno has recommended the abolition of PCGG, saying it no longer has any duties. He said the agency must no longer be appropriated a budget by the national government.

Diokno suggested the PCGG functions should be absorbed by the DOJ.

The PCGG was set up three decades ago, just after the EDSA Revolution that toppled the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos. It was tasked to recover the estimated $10 billion looted by the dictator and his allies during his 20 years in power, which were marked by massive corruption and abuse.

The agency has since recovered P170 billion or about $3.4 billion in ill-gotten wealth as well as jewelry, art and other assets.

Earlier, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas of Ilocos Norte and House justice panel chairman Reynaldo Umali of Oriental Mindoro filed a proposal seeking to abolish the PCGG and transfer all its authorities and responsibilities to the Office of the Solicitor General.