Senator wants ex-COA auditor as PHL anti-corruption czar

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday said that he wants former government auditor-turned-whistle-blower Heidi Mendoza to be the "anti-corruption czar" of the country. "Nirerecommend ko na maging isang anti-corruption czar siya (I recommend that she be the anti-corruption czar). She has the training. She has the integrity. She has the people's support," Cayetano told reporters at a press conference in Pasay City. Mendoza, as a former auditor of the Commission on Audit, had followed the money trail of transactions by former military comptroller Carlos F. Garcia, who is facing a P303-million plunder suit at the Sandiganbayan. She left her post at the Asian Development Bank in preparation for her testimony against Garcia. She had appeared before the House inquiry to testify about the corrupt practices in the military. However, she begged off from participating in the Senate inquiry on the same issue. Anti-graft council At his press briefing, Cayetano likewise suggested the formation of an anti-graft council or a commission on good governance that will look into all allegations of corruption in government. "We should take a more comprehensive approach to good governance," he said. Cayetano said all the Cabinet members have to do is to order for the creation of an inter-agency fact finding panel, which will submit the needed documents to the anti-graft body. "Mamimili ng (They can choose the) best of the best," he said. Cayetano also reiterated his call for the Senate to have its own witness protection program amid the inquiries being conducted by the chamber. He explained that they just need funding for the protection and transportation of the witnesses. If this is not possible, he said that they can just "strengthen" their sergeant-at-arms. The Senate is currently conducting a series of hearings on the alleged corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMANews.TV