DoF heightens anti-graft drive

THE Department of Finance (DoF), through its Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS), has stepped up its anti-graft drive under the leadership of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno.

RIPS is the DoF's anti-corruption arm, created under Executive Order 259, series 2003, to conduct lifestyle checks, investigate allegations of graft and corrupt practices, and file criminal and administrative complaints, as necessary, against officials and employees of the DoF, its bureaus, and attached agencies.

«Prudent fiscal management must be underpinned by transparency and accountability. As custodians of public resources, we cannot afford to leave any room for graft and corruption,» Diokno said Wednesday.

From July 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, RIPS has initiated a total of 58 investigations against suspected erring officials and employees under its jurisdiction.

These include 23 investigations on the Bureau of Customs (BoC); 23 on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); six on the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF); one on the Insurance Commission (IC); one on the DoF; three on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); and one on the Philippine Deposit Insurance Commission (PDIC).

It has filed five cases with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) against employees of the BIR, BoC, and BLGF; filed six cases with the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) against employees of the BIR; and has received eight favorable resolutions during the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

To further strengthen the fight against corruption, RIPS has established a Green Lane Committee with the BoC and BIR; made improvements to its existing monitoring system — the RIPS Alert System (RAS); and strengthened the capacity of its RIPS Sumbong Website.