MANILA, Philippines (Philippines News Agency) — President Rodrigo Duterte has called for an “immediate” investigation of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) after one of its officials killed himself over alleged corruption in the regulatory body.
”President Duterte has ordered the immediate investigation of the ERC,” Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said an interview with Filipino media who covered the president in the ongoing 2016 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Lima, Peru.
Andanar said the president did not say which government office will be investigated but assured the public that “there will be no sacred cows” in the conduct of the probe.
Last November 9, ERC Director Francisco Villa Jr. committed suicide inside his house in Parañaque due to the alleged corruption in the regulatory body.
Villar’s sister veteran journalist Rosario Sofia “Charie” Villar reportedly claimed his brother was being pressured to approve procurement contracts.
Duterte lived up to his election campaign promise to fight graft and corruption as well as illegal drugs and criminality.