Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) — The Senate will look into government agencies hounded by allegations of corruption in the upcoming hearings for the 2022 national budget, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said on Monday.
In a briefing with reporters, Sotto said his colleagues in the upper chamber may grill agencies such as the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
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“May mga departments na may red flag, for example, DOH, DA, DPWH, DSWD,” he said. “Siguro yun ang mga bubusisiin ng mga kasama ko.”
[Translation: There are departments with red flag, for example, the DOH, DA, DPWH, and DSWD. Perhaps my colleagues will investigate them further.]
In his speech when he opened the third regular session, Sotto said the Senate will “expose corruption in public service” as part of their remaining agenda under the current administration.
“We will continuously seek to expose corruption in public service and direct the searchlight of one of our committees towards the dark corners of our bureaucracy where corruption and injustice thrive unnoticed,” Sotto stressed.
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He added that the Senate is “ready and willing” to collaborate with other agencies in “correcting any wrong or discontinue a measure that is counter-productive.”
House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez told a government briefing that Congress aims to pass the 2022 budget within 10 weeks before the filing of certificates of candidacies in October.
