Gov’t official lifestyle checks must be ‘deep dive’ - Duterte
Metro Manila, Philippines - Vice President Sara Duterte backed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order to subject government officials to lifestyle checks, but noted that this should be a “deep dive.”
“Dapat lang [It must be done],” Duterte said in an interview on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at The Hague, Netherlands, when asked about the presidential directive.
Marcos issued the order amid a crackdown on alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
The lifestyle check will initially focus on officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways but could extend to other departments as needed.
Each agency may conduct its own checks, with oversight from the Office of the Ombudsman and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Duterte said elected and appointed public officials should undergo scrutiny.
“Hindi lang yung mga ‘yung on the surface na sasabihin natin kung ano yung nakalagay sa SALN (statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth), dapat deep dive kung sino ‘yung mga dummy. Ilabas ‘yung mga dummy ng mga public officials,” the vice president said.
[Translation: It must go beyond the surface, beyond what is stated on the SALN. It must be a deep dive to reveal the dummies. Let out the dummies of public officials.]
Beyond flood control
Duterte also said the probe should go beyond flood control projects, to include projects funded by the national government beginning in 2024.
Asked how she would face the corruption problem in the country, Duterte only said: “Ayaw ko magbigay ng libreng advice sa administration. Panoorin na lang natin sila sa circus nila. Panoorin na lang natin sila sa kanilang zarzuela.”
[Translation: I don’t want to give free advice to the administration. Let’s just watch their circus, their zarzuela.]
Duterte faced serious corruption allegations. The House of Representatives impeached the vice president due to charges that included her supposed mismanagement of ₱612.5-million confidential funds, bribery and corruption, and unexplained wealth and failure to disclose properties and interests.
The Supreme Court voided the Articles of Impeachment as it violated the one-year bar rule, prompting the Senate, which will hold the trial, to archive the case.
