Law Summary
Mandate and Primary Functions
- Investigate and determine unlawfully acquired properties by public officers and employees
- Focus on officials particularly in the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and other government offices with ongoing or prior investigations
- Collect and verify evidence to establish unlawful acquisition of property or wealth during public service
Legal Authority and Powers
- Granted powers of an investigating committee under Sections 71 and 580 of the Revised Administrative Code
- Authority to summon any government department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality, including government-owned or controlled corporations
- Entitled to clerical help, assistance, and access to necessary information, documents, books, papers, and records for investigation
- Access subject to legal limitations
Reporting and Accountability
- Required to submit all investigation reports, findings, recommendations, and supporting evidence to the President of the Philippines
Purpose and Legal Context
- Acts to implement Republic Act No. 1379 which mandates forfeiture of properties unlawfully acquired by public officials
- Addresses the difficulty of enforcing the Anti-Graft Law due to its non-self-executing nature
- Supports the administration's efforts to combat graft and corruption effectively
Scope of Investigation
- Targets public officers and employees suspected or shown to have acquired wealth unlawfully during tenure
- Emphasizes thorough investigation to build cases against offenders
- Applies to government agencies particularly vulnerable to graft
Procedural Emphasis
- Empowers committee to inquire, investigate, determine, and verify unlawful wealth acquisition
- Ensures the gathering of adequate evidence to support legal proceedings
Oversight and Enforcement Role
- Serves as the principal enforcement arm of the President in the anti-graft campaign
- Facilitates coordination among various government agencies to clamp down on corruption