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House welcomes corruption probe

Lord Allan Velasco
Lord Allan Velasco

THE House of Representatives, led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, is open to an investigation following President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to look into corruption in all government entities.

Velasco said the House of Representatives will submit to the DOJ which was tasked to lead the investigation into corruption across all government agencies including Congress.

“While we are saddened that some congressmen and the institution have been dragged into this controversy, we welcome such probe by any government agency,” Velasco said.

The Speaker pointed out that an investigation by the House into the involvement of its members in irregularities would be self-serving and would only create a cloud of doubt.

In a statement, Velasco said the House fully supports President’s directive for the conduct of a large-scale investigation into allegations of corruption in the entire government.

“We fully understand that the President is doing this out of his frustration over chronic corruption in government, and the House leadership is one with him in his desire to rid the bureaucracy of corrupt officials and employees in the remainder of his term,” Velasco said.

“It is also important to note that the President issued the directive following incessant attacks against the House due to alleged involvement of some of its members in corruption activities in the Department of Public Works and Highways,” he added.

Earlier, the PACC disclosed that at least 42 solons are involved in the corruption in the DPWH.

The PACC will submit the report as well as the names of the members of the House.

In his latest pronouncement, the president asked the DOJ to lead a multi-agency task force in a sweeping government-wide investigation.

The president admitted that the corruption problem of the government has worsened.