Lifestyle checks yet to start — PAGC

Two months after President Arroyo ordered a lifestyle check on government officials, the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) has yet to formally begin its investigation.

Members of the PAGC said they have yet to meet to formulate guidelines on the conduct of the lifestyle checks because of "many other commitments" they have to fulfill.

First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo as well as military and police officers will not be included in the lifestyle check, unless Executive Order (EO) 12, which created the commission, is amended, PAGC Chairman Dario Rama said.

Or Mrs. Arroyo could simply issue a directive to include her husband and the military and police officers in the lifestyle check.

The President has earlier expressed her desire to have the First Gentleman included in the lifestyle check to demonstrate transparency in government. Rama, however, said that the matter will still be discussed with Malacañang.

EO 12 provides that PAGC can only investigate "all presidential appointees in the Executive Branch" from the position of assistant regional director up to Cabinet secretary. The First Gentleman, the military and police officials are not presidential appointees.

"(Mr. Arroyo) could have been included (in the lifestyle check) if his appointment as OFW envoy pushed through," Rama said.

In line with the lifestyle check, some 5,000 government officials, as of Oct. 30, have submitted their statements of assets and liabilities (SALs) for the last three years to the PAGC.

The lifestyle check, Rama said, is a "slight change" from the usual investigation conducted by the PAGC, and needs a different set of procedures. Usually, the PAGC investigates administrative complaints or cases that have a specific complaint. The lifestyle check has no exact complaint — anyone holding a position falling under the range specified by EO 12 can be investigated.

Rama noted that it could be after the lifestyle check that the PAGC may determine whether a government official has committed graft or violated Republic Act 309, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, or Republic Act 6713, known as the Code of Conduct of Public Officials and Employees.

The PAGC is currently acting on 50 cases. It has finished its invesgiation of controversial cases involving the heads of government-owned and controlled corporations; former Education Secretary Raul Roco, former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Heherson Alvarez, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza; and Public Estate Authority officials.

After conducting an investigation, the PAGC comes up with a recommendation to be submitted to the President, who may or may not uphold the PAGC’s findings.

Critics have expressed reservations on the capability of the PAGC to perform or finish the lifestyle check on close to 5,000 government officials in 24 government agencies. Rama said that the commission will do its best to efficiently carry out its duty.

"If we are to talk of paperwork alone on this lifestyle check, it is really voluminous. But we will do our best to perform our task," he said.

Rama added that the PAGC will not set a deadline to finish the lifestyle check on the government officials. The deadline, he noted, might instead encourage government officials to hide illegally acquired properties until the deadline lapses.

"We want them to always be on their toes," he said.

The lifestyle check may also include the two Malacañang officials earlier tagged as "Clint Eastwood" and "Harrison Ford."

The PAGC will most likely begin its lifestyle check on the heads of at least three government agencies perceived by the general public to be the most corrupt — the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Rama called on the public to help them in the lifestyle check.

"I appeal to the public to cooperate. If you know something about a government official, come forward and tell us. This is a job for everybody," he said.