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MANILA, Philippines – The Mega Interagency Task Force Against Corruption created by President Rodrigo Duterte can receive complaints directly from the public about corrupt officials and practices in government agencies, the agency’s spokeswoman, Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay Villar, said Wednesday.
“The public can be asked to give advice, complaints or any information about activities that are illegal and corrupt in government agencies, and if they have personal knowledge, that is, they were the ones who saw or heard the corrupt activities that they are reporting, they can be summoned as witnesses if a case is brought against the person they denounced, ”Villar said at Laging Handa’s televised press conference.
The DOJ official added that if people who wish to report corrupt activity are afraid to do so because of possible retaliation or fear for their personal safety, they could be covered by the Witness Protection Program (WPP) of the DOJ.
“The WPP will protect them so they don’t worry and are not abandoned by the DOJ,” he said, adding that whistleblowers in various corruption cases, such as those from the Immigration Office, are currently under the protection of WPP.
Villar said the secretariat could also review reports from the Audit Commission, as well as previous investigative pieces from the media related to corruption.
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