DOT officials to submit to lifestyle checks, Puyat says

MANILA, Philippines — Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat directed all the department’s officials to submit themselves to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission’s lifestyle check.

“Not only do I submit myself, I also bring with me the DOT’s officials, as we fully submit ourselves to the lifestyle check of the PACC,” Puyat was quoted in the DOT statement, Friday.

“This is our way of sending the message across that the DOT is one with the administration’s anti-corruption drive,” she added.

In a bid to stamp out corruption, PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica earlier said they are conducting lifestyle checks on government officials, including two Cabinet members.

While he withheld the names of the two top officials, Belgica said the PACC are looking into officials of the following agencies:

• Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office
• Bureau of Customs
• Bureau of Internal Revenue, including its regional district officers
• Department of Public Works and Highways
• Department of Environment and Natural Resources
• Department of Transportation

Puyat said that the DOT is looking forward to being part of the PACC’s report that they hope would be completed by the end of 2019.

The Malacañang for its part said that it will wait for the final report and recommendation on the matter.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte is not aware of the ongoing probe against two of his Cabinet officials.

“He doesn’t have to be aware. When the investigation is done that’s the time he will decide on its recommendation. He (Duterte) doesn’t interfere with the work of the PACC,” Panelo also said. — Kristine Joy Patag with reports from The STAR/Christina Mendez