The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday, Dec. 29, vowed to enhance the security of its funds against fraud.
DOJ Spokesperson Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez confirmed that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested a DOJ payroll officer during an entrapment operation last Dec. 22 for allegedly diverting P12 million in public funds.
Martinez did not name the arrested payroll officer.
“The DOJ remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the protection of public resources, and will continue to strengthen internal controls to ensure that a similar situation does not occur in the future,” he said.
He said the DOJ assured full cooperation with the NBI and other authorities as they pursue the investigation.
In a recent interview, NBI Spokesperson Palmer Mallari said that prior to the entrapment operation, the payroll irregularities were discovered after an internal audit involving benefits intended for regional prosecutors.
After the documentations were completed, the DOJ presented the documents to the NBI for the conduct of an investigation that led to the entrapment of the suspect, Mallari said.