The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) can now recommend violations of the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 after President Rodrigo Duterte signed an order expanding its powers.
Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) 73 on December 28, copies of which were given to members of the media yesterday.
It amended section five of EO 43, series of 2017, which created the PACC.
Under the new measure, Duterte gave PACC the power to recommend violations of the law to the Anti-Red Tape Authority for investigation.
In May, Duterte signed Republic Act 11032, seeking to cut red tape in government. It mandates government agencies to comply with the prescribed processing time for business transactions.
It also requires local government units to streamline procedures in issuing business permits, clearances and other kinds of authorisation by implementing a unified application system.
For simple business transactions, processing time must take only three working days; for complex ones, within seven days; and highly technical ones, within 20 days.
The new EO also gave the commission the power to recommend to the president the filing of appropriate criminal complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman or the Department of Justice.
The PACC may also be asked to do other functions or duties as assigned by the president.
The president may assume jurisdiction at any stage of proceedings over cases being investigated by the PACC.
Duterte: war on graft
