PCGG: ‘Excessive’ practices discontinued after Bautista’s tenure

THE Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) in a statement on Friday, Aug. 25, disputed “allegations of abuse of the resources of some sequestered and surrendered corporations under its control and supervision.”

“This issue came up after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) disclosed that some corporations under the PCGG have opened bank accounts with the Luzon Development Bank (LDB) during the time of former PCGG Chairman Andres D. Bautista,” the statement noted.

Mr. Bautista is the subject of an impeachment complaint, based on allegations by his estranged wife, Patricia Paz Cruz-Bautista, of ill-gotten wealth in which LDB has also been implicated.

“The PCGG wants to assure the public that upon the assumption to office of the appointees of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, they have already discontinued past practices that are considered as excessive and unnecessary.”

“The savings, checking, and business savings account of the concerned sequestered and surrendered corporations with…LDB, opened during the time of Chairman Bautista, were already ordered to be closed and transferred to their previous depository bank (UCPB) and to the Land Bank of the Philippines,” the statement said, adding:

“The previous practice of the concerned sequestered and surrendered corporations of purchasing millions of pesos worth of gift checks and gift cards for distribution to its officers, and even to members of the media, was already immediately terminated.”

The statement also noted that, under the present commissioners, “not (emphasis in the statement) a single centavo of public fund was ever used to purchase even a single gift check….”

“All PCGG employees/consultants are now required to submit accomplishment reports and are no longer allowed to issue a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) to allow another person to claim their salary,” the statement also said. “We noticed that several supposed consultants during the previous administration have executed SPAs allowing an employee from the office of Chairman Bautista to receive their salaries.”

“Board meetings of the concerned sequestered and surrendered corporations should only be held within PCGG premises provided that the number of attendees can be accommodated,” the statement said further. “During the previous administration, around fifty-six (56) times, the board and stockholders’ meetings were held in luxurious hotels….Meanwhile, all of five meetings conducted by the President Duterte(-)appointed board were merely held inside the PCGG office.”