March 28, 2024

The government’s anti-corruption desk will soon be set up in Benguet, the first of many to be established in the Cordillera.
Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Commissioner (PACC) Greco Belgica said the “Katarungan desk” will be a one-stop shop for public for complaints on corruption or against abusive government officials. 
“Sa amin po sa national government we’ve been firing Cabinet secretaries even military officers involved in corruption, red tape, panggigipit but then the campaign has to be brought to the local government so we are seeking the help of the local government units and agencies to help us fight corruption,” Belgica said.
Katarungan desk is a safe reporting platform that aims to address all public-related reports on corruption, peace and order, and other similar matters.
Belgica recently met with the local chief executives of the province led by Gov. Melchor Diclas to discuss their program and setting up of the desk. 
He said aside from the Katarungan desk, they would be giving out a free phone app to accompany the program. He said the phone app would be a way for residents to communicate their grievances.
Belgica said there are reports that reached their efforts regarding corruption in some agencies in the region but they are on the process of validating the information.
“I’m here to validate information and to put a task to investigating agencies, that’s why I called the National Bureau of Investigation and be meeting up with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group as well as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency later with the regional directors of the region to put them to task and to work and iyon po ang ating gagawin,” he said.
He said with the help of Anti-Red Tape Authority or ARTA, they will be able to put up a system in various government agencies that will help ease transactions. He said most of the time, the long list of government requirements is a source of corruption if not properly handled.
Part of the monitoring for the help desks to be put up will be assigned staff of the PACC who will regularly conduct spot checks. 
Launched in Malacañang last year and in several cities in Metro Manila, the PACC is going around the country instituting the Katarungan desk. – Ofelia C. Empian