PPA reiterates strict compliance to anti-corruption policies as it relieves employee caught on Customs CCTV

MANILA, SEPTEMBER 8, 2016—Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) general manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago directed all its employees to strictly follow anti-corruption in light of the video showing one of its personnel caught in an allegedly anomalous transaction.

Santiago stressed that strict adherence to government ethical standards is the only way to prevent similar cases from happening again.

It maybe recalled that on Wednesday, the Bureau of Customs showed a video of their Closed Circuit TVs of PPA personnel allegedly receiving money from “importers/brokers transacting and processing papers to avail of gate passes.” The CCTVs were strategically installed as part of the Government’s efforts to promote transparency and curb corruption in the Bureau.

“Based on our initial investigation, our employee caught on CCTV deviated from the prescribed transaction procedures, the very reason why she’s in this mess right now,” Santiago said.

“Procedures and guidelines are put in place specifically to prevent this kind of scenarios, that is why I am directing all PPA personnel not to deviate from any of our procedures in order to avoid similar instances from happening again in the future,” Santiago said.

“And as a result of her action, I already ordered the personnel relieved from her current position pending the result of the ongoing investigation,” Santiago explained.

Similarly, the PPA chief lauded the BOC for its efforts in installing the CCTVs and for showing the alleged malpractice of its employees, which became the basis of his order. Santiago further hopes that continued coordination between the two agencies will continue in order to stamp-out and curb corruption in their respective organizations.

PPA is also accelerating its efforts in migrating from manual to cashless transactions to avoid similar cases like this in the future.

PPA is also assuring the public that the agency will not tolerate any kind of corruption under its auspices and similarly punish to the full extent of the law its personnel that will be found guilty of any corruption.

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