An anti-corruption watchdog on Tuesday filed a graft complaint against Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Commissioner Greco Belgica before the Office of the Ombudsman for supposed illegal raids.
Monalie Dizon, Kilusang Pagbabago chairperson, also filed a complaint of malfeasance and usurpation of authority against Belgica.
She questioned the presence of Belgica when he went along with authorities to raid two government employees with salary grade 26 from the Bureau of Internal Revenue without the consent of the PACC.
“All his acts are without the authority of the Commission. Further, the subject of the entrapment are two officials of the BIR whose positions are below grade 26, thus are not within the jurisdiction of PACC as provided under Section 5 (a), hence Belgica’s act was contrary to law,” the complaint read.
She said the PACC official was armed with a gun during the raid.
“In his eagerness to attain publicity for himself he tipped the media to cover the raid and entrapment for the purpose of serving his personal interest of maximum publicity for him thus enhancing his popularity to the public and thereby fulfill his ambition to become a Senator of the Republic,” the complaint further stated.
“Coupled with the fact that he, like an actor in a movie, took possession of a firearm and play-acted as if he was about to do a shooting match with the alleged criminals.”
Dizon urged the Ombudsman to hold Belgica culpable of malfeasance and usurpation of authority for asking the National Bureau of Investigation to field its operatives in a raid as the duly authorized representative.
She accused Belgica of leading another raid on a fixer transacting illegal business at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for a transport network vehicle service.
“The acts of Belgica where he conducted two raids and entrapment operations without the knowledge and authority of the Commission which constitute graft and corruption, malfeasance and usurpation of authority are grounds for the commission of grave misconduct,” Dizon said.
“He chose personal interest over public interest […] which is to attain publicity in the entrapment operation as he has alerted the media to cover his operation in spite of the fact that the operation was not sanctioned by the Commission,” she added.
When asked to comment in a Viber message, Belgica just told the Manila Standard that “(he) will do.”