The Task Force Against Corruption (TFAC) is ready to investigate the nine former and current legislators named by President Duterte for their alleged links to anomalous public works projects, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday.
Guevarra gave the assurance after the President identified the nine during a televised public address Monday night based on the report submitted by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to the Office of the President (OP).
“I'm not sure if the PACC report to the President is complete by itself (I have not seen it) and is ready for filing with the Office of the Ombudsman,” the secretary said.
“If not, the OP may refer the report to the DOJ Task Force Against Corruption for validation, further investigation, or case build-up,” he said.
If the PACC report is already complete with supporting evidence, Guevarra said “pwedeng derecho na yun sa OMB (the cases can be filed directly with the OMB).”
“I'll wait for OP's referral, if ever,” he said.
During the televised address, Duterte identified the nine lawmakers allegedly involved in corrupt activities as Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Sato, Quezon City 5th District Rep. Alfred Vargas, Misamis Occidental 2nd District Rep. Henry Oaminal, Isabela 4th District Rep. Alyssa Tan, Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Paul Daza, Quezon 4th District Rep. Angelina Tan, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap, and Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman, and former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr.
Duterte assured the eight current legislators and one former lawmaker that he is not picking a fight with them.
“To the members of Congress, I do not want a quarrel with you. We are independent of each other and this is not really my work. So that you would know this is in obedience, maybe to my call for people who know of corruption kasi talagang exasperated ako sa corruption ng gobyerno (because I’m really exasperated with corruption in government),” he said.
“This is not an indictment, this is not to destroy you, but be careful because you might… It works both ways. There might be somebody using your name or gumagawa hindi mo alam pagkatapos nire-report doon (without your knowledge and then report you),” he added.
Duterte also revealed that he also relieved a number of public works district engineers allegedly involved in anomalous projects.