Legislators will not be excluded from investigations that will be conducted by the Task Force Against Corruption (TFAC), Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra assured on Wednesday, Nov. 25.
“It’s the corrupt act or transaction that is being investigated,” said Guevarra.
“Kung sino man ang sasabit, it will not matter kung outside the executive department siya (Whoever is involved, it will not matter if the person is outside the executive department,” he explained.
He made the assurance even after President Duterte said during the public address that was televised Monday night, Nov. 23, that the Chief Executive cannot take action against legislators involved in corrupt activities.
“When it comes to criminal investigation and prosecution, no one is exempt, except those enjoying immunity from suit during their tenure,” the secretary pointed out.
On the other hand, Guevarra admitted that “the rule is different in administrative cases.”
“The President has neither supervision nor control over other branches of the government and therefore may not investigate them for misconduct, dishonesty, and the like, as he correctly pointed out,” he explained.
Last Monday, Guevarra recounted that he already clarified with Duterte that, should government officials outside the executive department be found engaged in corrupt activities, “then these officials will necessarily be included in complaints that the task force may file with the office of the ombudsman.”
“The president stated that if the involvement of a member of congress, for instance, is germane to the anomalous transaction, then the latter’s inclusion in criminal charges will have to be endorsed to the OMB (Office of the Ombudsman) through the secretary of justice,” he said.