MANILA – The Department of Finance (DOF) said Wednesday its Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) has stepped up its anti-graft drive.
In a statement, the DOF said from July 2022 to Sept. 30, 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; 23 on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR); six on the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF); one on the Insurance Commission; one on the DOF; three on the Securities and Exchange Commission; and one on the Philippine Deposit Insurance Commission.
It also filed five cases with the Civil Service Commission against employees of the BIR, BOC, and BLGF; filed six cases with the Office of the Ombudsman against employees of the BIR; and has received eight favorable resolutions during the term of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
“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,” Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said.
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.
To further strengthen the fight against corruption, the DOF said RIPS established a Green Lane Committee with the BOC and BIR; made improvements in its existing monitoring system -- the RIPS Alert System; and strengthened the capacity of its RIPS Sumbong Website. (PNA)
