GORDON NOT LIKELY TO ENDORSE ABOLITION OF PCGG, OR ITS CONSOLIDATION UNDER OSG

Senator Richard J. Gordon is not likely to endorse the abolition of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), or its consolidation under the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).

Gordon, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice, has already conducted hearings on proposals to abolish the PCGG and transferring its powers and functions to the OSG.

"Adding more burden to the OSG will not give it the necessary focus that we would like it to have. So we are not likely to recommend placing PCGG under OSG in the committee report," he said.

Adding anti-corruption functions could prove to be additional burden to the lawyers, who, at present, are handling an average of 1,400 cases each.

Gordon also noted that abolishing the PCGG and consolidating it under the OSG would remove the former's independence.

"Pag naging under ng OSG ang PCGG, mawawala ang independence ng PCGG. At the moment, I don't think we should abolish it (PCGG). That is my disposition because you need a special team to go after these people with ill-gotten wealth," he said.

The senator said the PCGG should instead be provided with sufficient budget to enable the agency to carry out its mandate more competently.

"Pero kailangan i-motivate sila na makuha na nila na mabilis sila. Gumawa sila ng timeline para mabilis ang trabaho nila. Nung nag-report ang PCGG sa amin, mukhang nagagawa naman nila pero dapat dagdagan ang sipag para makuha ang mas malaki," Gordon said.

"Ang nakikita ko lang sa PCGG medyo matagal pero nakakabawi naman tayo ng konting pera. Pero kung bibigyan mo sila ng suporta sa budget at ilimit mo yung kanilang time para mabawi na lahat ng kailangan niyang bawiin aabot yan. Mas mabilis yan," he added.

Based on a report from the PCGG, for the past ten years, it has an average annual recovery of P8-billion and has remitted a total of P80-billion to the Bureau of Treasury for the said period.