President Rodrigo Duterte has signed Executive Order (EO)聽No. 43 creating the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.
Duterte signed the EO on October 4.
The EO stated that the commission is mandated 鈥渢o directly assist the President in investigating and/or hearing administrative cases primarily involving graft and or聽corruption against all presidential appointees.鈥�
鈥淭here is a need to create a separate commission under the Office of the President solely dedicated to providing assistance to the President in the investigation and hearing of administrative cases and complaints, and in the conduct of lifestyle checks and/or fact-finding inquiries concerning presidential appointees and other public officers allegedly involved in graft and corrupt practices, or have committed other higher crimes and/or violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees,鈥� the EO stated.
It stated that the commission would have 鈥減ower, on a complaint, or motu proprio, and concurrently with the Office of the Ombudsman to hear, investigate, receive, gather, and evaluate evidence, intelligence reports, and information in administrative cases against all presidential appointees.鈥�
It added聽that 鈥渦pon the instructions of the President or motu propio, the commission may conduct lifestyle checks and fact-finding inquiries on acts or omissions of all presidential appointees, including those outside the executive branch of government.鈥�
The commission will compose of a chairman and four commissioners.
Duterte created the anti-corruption commission amid his allegations of corruption and 鈥渟elective justice鈥� against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and officials of the anti-graft agency.
The Ombudsman has said it was investigating the alleged unexplained wealth of Duterte, which supposedly amounts to billions.聽/je
