LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) is keen on establishing the “Katarungan Desk” in the province where the public can file their complaints as a way to curb corruption in government.
PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica on Thursday met with Governor Melchor Diclas and the municipal mayors to present and discuss the establishment of the “Katarungan Desk” to help the PACC in its campaign against corruption in the government.
“We are seeking partners for the anti-corruption campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte thru the local government units, and this time the province of Benguet is seen to be the first to be established in the Cordillera region,” he said.
Belgica said that from the national level, the campaign against corruption has to be brought to the local government units and line agencies thru the “Katarungan Desk which will serve as a one-stop-shop grievance agency for the public against abusive incumbent government officials. The desk shall be placed in every barangay, provincial, city and municipal halls, and other public areas.
“The purpose of Katarungan Desk is to develop a responsive and safe reporting platform that would address complaints of injustice and corruption for the benefit of clients such as the farmers, indigenous people and other stakeholders in the province,” the PACC chief said.
He informed that they have been receiving reports of corrupt practices in some offices in the Cordillera region and they have coordinated with the National Bureau of Investigation and some government offices and agencies for validation and investigation.
To file a complaint at the Katarungan Desk, clients should fill up “dulugan” forms and drop these in boxes that will be placed at the Provincial Capitol. The said forms, then, will be collected by PACC staff who will also man the desk and provide guidance to complaining individuals.
Belgica said the complaint or report will be treated with confidentiality and will undergo verification and investigation before being submitted to the Office of the President for appropriate action.
Belgica added that the PACC is also in the process of developing a phone application which can be used to report complaints using smart phones and the internet.
Meanwhile, the commissioner also talked to students of the University of the Cordilleras and the University of Baguio thru the Truth and Justice Coalition Symposiums which encouraged them to help the PACC curb corruption by reporting acts of corruption to them thru the different social media platforms and the soon to be established Katarungan Desk in Benguet.
Belgica also had a dialogue with the regional directors and other heads of offices where he encouraged them to help the campaign of President Duterte against corruption thru the establishment of the Katarungan Desks in their respective offices or in public places. **JDP/RMC PIA-CAR
