PGMN Anchor and former Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) chairman Greco Belgica has publicly debunked lingering allegations that he intentionally hid the identities of lawmakers implicated in the multi-billion-peso Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) corruption controversy in 2020.
In a recent statement posted to his official Facebook page, Belgica labeled allegations and old broadcast clips claiming he “refused to name names” as targeted misinformation. He maintained that his actions during the high-profile investigation were governed strictly by legal mandates rather than political evasion.
“PARA SA KAALAMAN NG LAHAT. Fake news ang kumakalat na tumanggi si dating Chairman Greco Belgica at ang Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) na pangalanan ang mga korap na opisyal!” Belgica stated. “Huwag pong magpaloko sa maling impormasyon.”
The controversy dates back to late 2020, when the PACC uncovered a web of corruption involving district engineers and a handful of lawmakers allegedly demanding kickbacks from government infrastructure projects. At the time, Belgica faced heavy public and political pressure to release the identities of the lawmakers under investigation—a demand he consistently denied.
In his clarification, Belgica emphasized that neither he nor the commission possessed the legal authority to publicly broadcast unverified investigative leads. He cited Section 5 (c) of Executive Order No. 43, series of 2017—the statute that created the PACC—noting that the agency was obligated to “isumite ang kanilang ulat at rekomendasyon nang direkta at eksklusibo sa Pangulo” (submit its report and recommendations directly and exclusively to the President) to protect due process and investigation confidentiality.
Belgica asserted that the PACC fully executed its anti-graft mandate by successfully transmitting the complete, unedited intelligence list to Malacañang. The identities were subsequently made public when former President Rody Duterte chose to read the list verbatim during a nationwide televised address on December 28, 2020.
Addressing accusations of selective justice, Belgica clarified that the investigation was conducted impartially, snaring political allies and detractors alike.
“Kapartido at hindi, ay parehong nakasama sa listahan. Walang pinili, inalis at diniinan. Yung totoo lang,” Belgica stated. “Patunay na walang itinago, pinagtakpan at pinag initan dahil kalaban sa politika si Belgica at Duterte nung kanilang panahon sa laban kontra korapsyon.”
The initial 2020 disclosure by President Duterte named at least nine sitting and former congressmen, all of whom firmly denied the allegations. At the time, Duterte himself explicitly noted that the PACC report served as preliminary intelligence and did not constitute absolute, court-ready evidence of guilt.
