MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) will perform a lifestyle check on “all government officials.”

PACC Commissioner and Spokesperson Greco Belgica announced this on Tuesday, March 27, in a press conference at the Manila Yacht Club.

According to Belgica, the PACC through its resolution number 3 has provided for them to conduct lifestyle checks on all officials. 

The PACC was created by President Rodrigo Duterte in October 2017 to aid him in curbing corruption in the executive department.

How will they do it? According to Belgica they will begin with heads of departments, then local government officials like governors and mayors.

Then, they will come after legislators from the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“Leaders muna. Ulo-ulo, pababa (The leaders first. Heads going down),” Belgica explained.

They will start their lifestyle checks by looking into officials’ Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs), comparing whether what the officials earn match what they own.

“Kunyari ako sumweldo ako commissioner I think sesweldo ng P150,000, babawasan pa ng mga taxes so 100 na lang, wala nang 30%. Pero paano ako nakabili ng yate? How did that happen?” Belgica dramatized. 

(For example, I am a commissioner, I think I earn P150,000, then you subtract taxes, so it’s just P100,000 without the 30%. But how did I buy a yacht? How did that happen?)

If they find anything irregular, they will file an administrative case with the President.

Abuse of power? The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission only has jurisdiction over presidential appointees nationwide but will conduct the check on all government employees “who have taken oath” according to Belgica.

He said that while they are only expected to file administrative cases, the PACC will start criminal case build-ups that they would later refer to law enforcement agencies like the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation. – Rappler.com