A consumer’s group is asking President Rodrigo Duterte to look into allegations of corruption inside the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC), in response to the President’s challenge to name officials involved in shady activities inside his administration.
SAYING that it is helping President Duterte in his dare to Sen. Manny Pacquiao and the public to name government offices and employees involved in corrupt practices, watchdog Institute for Consumer Research and Empowerment (ICORE) has come forward and answered the challenge.
Not on same wavelength
In a statement, ICORE convenor Nick Elman said the President should look no further and must start his cleanup with Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), president and CEO Dave Almarinez.
“We are just trying to help President Duterte because we are convinced that he is really sincere in ridding the bureaucracy of all forms of corruption. Unfortunately for him some of his trusted people do not share the same wavelength with him,” Elman said.
Elman added that Digong would not have a hard time firing Almarinez from his job because various cases were already filed against him by good governance advocate-lawyer Larry Gadon.
Corruption charges
To recall, Gadon previously formally filed criminal charges for swindling (estafa) and malversation of public funds and other acts of corruption in government service before the Office of the Ombudsman against Almarinez.
Gadon based his complaint on a Commission on Audit (COA) report of May 2, 2019 which revealed that the PITC entered into several memorandum of agreements (MOA) with at least 17 government agencies for the procurement of goods and services, including infrastructure projects. (See also: ALMARINEZ CHARGED FOR ESTAFA )
Usec. Dave Almarinez photo from opinyon
Stinking odor
The lawyer explained that the mandate of the PITC is to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective procurement services for government offices which Almarinez failed to observe by instead parking the money in his office and used it in other investment schemes.
“We are very sure that President Duterte meant it when he said that he would not allow even a whiff of corruption in his administration. Almarinez’s case is not even a whiff it’s a stinking odor because formal charges were already filed against him,” Elman added.
First time
He noted that this is the first time that a PITC official has been charged formally before the Ombudsman despite numerous reports of anomalies against the agency before, which was indicative of the government’s commitment to fight corruption.
“We know that this administration is for good governance but as long as there are officials who would continue to use their power and position to enrich themselves, then corruption will persist,” he pointed out.
Digong challenge
Elman was reacting to an earlier challenge by Duterte to Pacquiao to come up with a list of government offices and employees involved in corrupt practices to prove his claim that the administration is “three times” more corrupt than previous administrations.
In his weekly taped speech, Duterte told Pacquiao to reveal offices and employees involved in corruption.
"Gaya ni Pacquiao. Salita nang salita na three times daw tayo na mas corrupt. So I am challenging him. Ituro mo ang opisina na corrupt, at ako na ang bahala," Duterte said.
"Within one week, may gawin ako. Maglista ka, Pacquiao, at sinasabi mong two times kaming mas corrupt. Ilista mo 'yung mga tao at opisina. Dapat inilista mo na 'yan noon, at ibigay mo sa akin."
Corruption exists
Duterte also said that although he already did his part to prevent corruption in government, corruption still exists, no matter who the president is.
"Every administration will have a share of the problem of corruption. Do not ever think that if you will win as president, na wala nang corruption dito sa Pilipinas," he said.
Duterte added he will wait for Pacquiao to speak up about what he knows, otherwise, he will campaign against him in the upcoming elections.
"So maghintay ako sa listahan mo at sa mga tao. Matagal naman tayong magkaibigan. Hanggang kahapon, noong isang araw ka lang nagsabi ng corruption’ Digong also said.
Presidential ambitions
“It's easy, really, to say. Hindi ko sinasabing walang corruption. Kaya nga ituro mo, kasi 'yung lahat ng itinuro ng iba, pinaalis ko na sa gobyerno. I am challenging you or else talagang sabi nga nila, totoo, namumulitika ka lang," he stressed.
Pacquiao, the current president of PDP-Laban, has been vocal about his plans to run for president next year, while Duterte said his former close aide, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, also wants to succeed him in Malacañang.
Malacañang earlier said Duterte and Pacquiao remain allies despite supposed infighting within the ruling party.
Tags: #RodrigoDuterte, #corruption, #PhilippineInternationalTradingCenter, #InstituteForConsumerResearchandEmpowerment