The Palace on Tuesday backed the Office of the Ombudsman’s probe into alleged irregularities involving Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) funds.
The Ombudsman previously announced that it had launched a fact-finding investigation into the reported “ghost internet scheme” wherein contractors installed cheaper, outdated, or substandard software and hardware for government Information Technology (IT) systems projects.
According to reports, the DICT also flagged certain free wi-fi sites as non-operational.
The Palace said all anomalous transactions involving public officials must be looked into, so as to identify those to be held accountable.
“Sa lahat ng maanomalya na transaksiyon na kinapapalooban ng mga public officials ay dapat lamang itong maimbestigahan. Ang lahat ng ginagawa ng gobyerno ay para sa taumbayan, hindi po kinakailangan na makulangan ang mga ibibigay na serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a press briefing at the Malacañang.
“So, kung ano po ang nakikita ng Ombudsman, kung mayroong mga ebidensiya na dapat pang imbestigahan, dapat lamang pong ipagpatuloy ang lahat ng pag-iimbestiga para managot ang sinumang nang-aabuso sa kaban ng bayan at naninira, sumisira sa magandang adhikain at proyekto ng pamahalaan,” she added.
As of now, there have been no particular officials pinpointed, the Palace official said.
Castro acknowledged that this “ghost scheme” affects government transactions and services, resulting in ineffective inter-agency coordination and limited service coverage.
“Definitely, opo, kasi kung kulang ang mga maibibigay sa ating serbisyo, hindi magiging maganda ang epekto nito. Hindi magiging effective din iyong sinasabi natin na dapat lahat konektado kasi kulang-kulang ang binibigay na serbisyo,” she said.
Addressing contractors, Castro appealed that they do not abuse the trust the government has placed in them to deliver sufficiently.
“So, panawagan naman natin sa mga investors na ito, kayo po ay pinagkakatiwalaan ng ating pamahalaan, huwag ninyo naman pong abusuhin ang tiwalang ibinigay sa inyo. Ang payment sa inyo, ang mga ibinabayad sa inyo ay kumpleto naman so huwag ninyo naman pong kulangan ang dapat na ibigay sa ating mga kababayan,” she said.
On Saturday, September 19, the DICT said it wholly supports the Ombudsman’s investigation.
“We are treating this matter with utmost urgency and stand ready to provide any records, technical information, and assistance necessary to support a thorough and impartial investigation,” the department said.
