MALACAÑANG said President Ferdinand Marcos is open to imposing shorter prison sentences to government officials, who will return all or some of their kickbacks from flood control and other public works projects.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the statement, saying that the said measure was proposed by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson to boost the chances of the administration from collecting government funds, which were lost from kickbacks.
‘But for now, the President and the administration are open to all good suggestions so that we can recover the allegedly stolen public funds and hold those who should be held accountable,’ she said in Filipino in a press briefing on Monday.
She said the President has the power to grant clemency and pardon to those who are qualified.
Under the Constitution, the President may grant reprieves, commutations, pardons, and remit fines and forfeitures, to those convicted by final judgement except those who were impeached.
The Chief Eexecutive may also grant amnesty with the concurrence of the majority of the members of Congress.
Lacson said his proposed ‘retribution and restitution’ formula, which will be implemented through plea bargaining with the accused officials, will help the government to recover at least 80 percent of the said kickbacks.
Expanded investigations
SINCE Marcos announced the government will crack down on anomalous flood control projects during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), concerned government agencies as well as the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, initiated investigations on problematic public works.
Several lawmakers as well as government officials and personnel were linked to said irregularities and are now facing charges.
Castro said Marcos backed the said probes as long as it will lead to airtight cases against the accused.
‘The directive [from the President] still continues that a thorough investigation must be conducted and there must be a lot of evidence to be presented so that it will not be wasted if a case is filed [against the accused],’ she added.