Lifestyle check to exclude Perez

The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) said yesterday it is poised to set into motion the lifestyle check of public officials but announced they will have to exclude First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and members of the police force and the military in the probe.

PAGC Commissioner Teresita Baltazar said they will still have to clarify some issues with Malacañang to include Mr. Arroyo, members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces, in the lifestyle check.

She also said they will also exclude resigned justice secretary Hernando Perez since he is no longer a member of the Cabinet.

She said President Arroyo may have to amend Executive Order No. 12, which created the PAGC, to expand the list of officials and personalities covered in the probe.

The order states that the PAGC may conduct investigation on all presidential appointees from the position of assistant regional director up to the level of Cabinet members.

"Nevertheless, since the President said that the First Gentleman and military and police officers should be included, we will do that," Baltazar said.

She said the statements of assets and liabilities (SALs) submitted by Perez would virtually be useless in their investigation.

Baltazar said the mechanics of the lifestyle probe are being worked out. She said the PAGC will start the investigation "very soon."

Baltazar emphasized that the PAGC is coordinating with the civil society groups which she described as their "eyes and ears on the ground" on the probe.

She added the PAGC will tap the services of the inter-agency Anti-Corruption Coordinating Council (ACCC) in the conduct of the probe.

"We will investigate on their lifestyle but it would be very informal. But technically we could not file any graft case against them because it would be beyond the mandate of the PAGC," she said.

The lifestyle check will focus on the unexplained wealth of the government officials and will be treated like a graft case, Baltazar said.

"We will look into the lifestyle not commensurate to the income of the government official. So we really need the help of everybody. We will be both pro-active and reactive on this," she said.

The PAGC commissioner said they will try to wind up their investigations within the remaining 18 months of Mrs. Arroyo’s administration.