Press Release
February 17, 2018

GORDON EYES STRENGTHENING PCGG THROUGH BUDGETARY SUPPORT, OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

To enable the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) to carry out its mandate more competently, Senator Richard J. Gordon underscored the need to provide the agency with sufficient budget. Gordon, who chairs the Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, noted that aside from budgetary support, an oversight committee should also be created to monitor the PCGG.

"Ang nakikita ko lang sa PCGG matagal masyado 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 said.

The committee is conducting a hearing on bills proposing to strengthen the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) by, among other things, abolishing the PCGG and the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) and their respective powers and functions transferred to the OSG.

Gordon, however, expressed reservation about integrating the PCGG and the OGCC with the OSG since questions on conflict of interest have been raised.

"No, I don't think PCGG will be abolished. Noong una, we were going to see kung pwedeng pagsama-samahin (yung tatlong offices) pero mukhang hindi pe-pwede e. Pero we will still await for the recommendations of SolGen Calida on conflict of interest. Kasi lahat sila, except him, nagsasabi may conflict of interest," he said.

The senator pointed out that the OGCC is focused on corporate matters and that it won't serve any purpose to integrate it with the OSG; on the other hand, transferring the PCGG to the OSG would only impede the former's operations.

"Pagsasamahin mo yan, maraming mawawalan ng trabaho, maglalagay ka pa ng provision para sa separation pay, retirement pay. Maraming-maraming tatamaan. Hindi makakatipid. Dapat i-fill up ng OSG yung 128 positions na vacant at gamitin nila ang mga abugadong nandun. Ito, justice ang hinahawakan nito e. That is a very important agency. Kaya kailangan ang kukunin mo e ang the best at saka mabibilis," he stressed.

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