208 complaints filed with task force against corruption


 A total of 208 complaints has been received by the Task Force Against Corruption (TFAC) as of Feb. 15, but only 148 cases involved actual corruption in government, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)

He said 69 of the 148 cases have been evaluated or undergoing evaluation and 40 complaints have been referred to member agencies for comment, further investigation or case build-up.On Tuesday, Feb. 16, one complaint will be officially filed before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB). Guevarra, however, did not give details.

The TFAC was created by President Duterte in October last year with the Department of Justice (DOJ) as the lead agency in the investigation of corruption cases in government until the end of the President’s term in 2022.

Guevarra said the complaints received by TFAC “involve a wide range of national government agencies, several owned or controlled corporations, and a large number of local government units.”

“These complaints allege violations of the anti-graft law, procurement law, rules of the Commission on Audit, social amelioration programs, ghost projects, unfinished projects, kickbacks and commissions, bribery, extortion, smuggling, fake land titles, falsified free patents and other fraudulent, corrupt or illegal acts committed by public officials and private persons alike,” he said.