MANILA, Philippines – Two members of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet are now under probe by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).
According to PACC Commissioner Manuelito Luna, they have been investigating Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Director General Isidro Lapeña of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) since 2018.
“Nagkaroon na kami ng fact-finding sa DOLE tapos magnetic lifters. Although si Lapeña, cleared na ng Senate, kami, hindi pa kami ready to say so kasi hindi pa nga tapos,” Luna confirmed.
Lapeña was tagged in the billion-peso shabu shipment concealed inside large magnetic lifters.
Bello on the other hand was bombarded with criticisms for allegedly accepting bribe from a recruitment agency and from a businesswoman.
But the Palace assured that President Duterte will definitely act on the matter once the investigation of the PACC is over and the result of the probe is submitted to him.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo reiterated that there is no ‘palakasan’ or ‘padrino’ system in the Duterte administration.
“You must remember that the President’s policy ever since there are no sacred cows in this administration, you violate the law regardless of your status whether you’re a friend or ally or political adversary, or a relative, a friend or a fraternity brother. wala lahat yun. You violate the law, you are accountable,” Panelo said.
Secretary Bello, for his part, maintained that there is no truth in the allegations being thrown against him.
“Wala naman akong alam na katiwalian na involved ako,” he said.
Lapeña, meanwhile, is yet to respond to the issue.
The TESDA administration was cleared by Senate in the shabu shipment probe and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) did not include him in the list of persons charged for the billion-peso drug scandal. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Rosalie Coz)
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