VACC’s Dante Jimenez named chair of anti-graft commission
Jimenez has expressed support for the president, who won last year's election on a strong anti-crime and corruption platform. Edd Gumban
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 6:37 p.m.) — President Rodrigo Duterte has designated Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption president Dante Jimenez as the chair of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.
The appointment paper was signed on January 12 but was only released to media Monday.
Jimenez submitted the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, but it was dismissed. He also threatened to file an impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
Jimenez has been vocal about his support for the president, who won last year's election on a strong anti-crime and corruption platform.
Duterte has also appointed Rickson Chiong, Gregorio Contacto III and former Manila Councilor Greco Belgica as commissioners of PACC.
Contacto represented retired police official Wally Sombero in the Senate hearing into the bribery scandal involving two former officials of the Bureau of Immigration.
Immigration Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles, who later resigned, were accused of extorting P50 million from gaming tycoon Jack Lam. Sombero allegedly acted as Lam's bagman.
Belgica, a defeated senatorial candidate under PDP-Laban, filed a disbarment complaint against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, which the Supreme Court swiftly junked.
It was also Belgica's complaint to the Department of Justice that prompted the agency to reopen its probe into the Disbursement Acceleration Program during the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.
READ: VACC: Anti-crime advocate for some, mercenary group for others
Last October, Duterte created the PACC to look into the excessive lifestyles of, and graft and corruption by government officials.
It will also recommend punishment against erring officials that will range from suspension to removal from office.
The creation of the commission was a bid to make good his threat to investigate the ombudsman and her deputies for pursuing a fact-finding probe into his alleged illegal bank deposits.
READ: Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission created
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