A former chairman of the House Good Government and Public Accountability Committee said the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) must file formal charges against the handful of solons it has linked to corruption, otherwise the agency is just spewing allegations.
"Those are just allegations. They must present concrete evidence," said Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel Monday in an apparent dare to PACC chief Greco Belgica.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
This panel usually investigates malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance in government, in aid of legislation, and its counterpart in the Senate is the Blue Ribbon Committee.
"If there is prima facie evidence then they should file a case in court, otherwise it will remain as allegations only," the Mindanaoan, former deputy speaker, and head of the panel in the 17th Congress, advised Belgica.
Late last month, President Duterte, citing information from PACC, implicated Reps. Henry Oaminal (Misamis Occidental), Alfred Vargas (Quezon City), Paul Daza (Northern Samar), Eric Go Yap (ACT-CIS party-list/Benguet), Geraldine Roman (Bataan), Alyssa Sheena Tan (Isabela), Angelina Tan (Quezon), and Josephine Ramirez-Sato (Occidental Mindoro) to corruption in the public works sector.
Also implicated by the Chief Executive was Teddy Baguilat Jr., a former Ifugao representative. However, Duterte was quick to note that there weren't any hard evidence against the House members, at least not yet.
Like Pimentel, Manila Rep. Manny Lopez faulted the PACC for this glaring omission.
"He (Belgica) has to prove his malicious corruption allegations and findings and base it on facts. He is not only ruining the reputation of the names he mentioned but also tarnishing the image of the House of Representatives," Lopez said.
"I support the campaign against corruption and public accountability but let it be based on fairness and rule of law," Lopez, chairman of the House Metro Manila Development panel, added.