BACOLODNON lawyer Jesus "Jayvee" Hinlo Jr. is the newly appointed Commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
He had served as the director of the Land Bank of the Philippines and undersecretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) before being appointed PACC Commissioner.
He recently took his oath of Office before Bacolod City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia.
During his oathtaking, Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, former City Administrator Em Ang, his Law Professor City Legal officer Joselito Bayatan, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Negros Occidental President Jo Natalaray and SB Corp. Director Jude Doctora joined him to share his momentous day.
His task is to help President Duterte investigate and fight corruption under the PACC's jurisdiction, which he considered complex and sensitive.
"With the administration coming to its end, I chose not to abandon our President. I will help him, and the PACC fight against graft and corruption in our country,” Hinlo assured.
“I am humbled by the President's choice and trust in appointing me to such a very sensitive post. With my new Office, I hope for the PACC to work with the Office of the President, the Senate, and the House of Representatives to review laws governing the needed access to evidence by our graft investigators and the need to improve our country's procurement process,” he said.
Hinlo stressed that both the executive and legislative departments of the government must help each other in this endeavor.
He added, “This is where the significant participation of our friend Senator Bong Go comes in (and) with my acceptance of my PACC position, I have to bid farewell to my Landbank family.”
Hinlo said he believes that the knowledge and experience that he gained in his past positions at the DILG and Landbank are invaluable in preparing him for this expectedly most challenging post as PACC Commissioner.
Aside from being the new commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, Hinlo is the national president of the Philippine Development Movement.
His friend, former Tourism Assistant secretary Daniel Mercado, in his Facebook post, has congratulated Hinlo on his new position and journey.
"He (Hinlo) was the first National President of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, widely known as the one who got away in the 2019 Senatorial race. He gathered a sizable national following to make a bid for Senator,” Mercado wrote.
Further, he said, “But he (Hinlo) dedicated his time during and after the elections to Landbank and after-office hours to our country's advancement through the Philippine Development Movement.”
He also pinned his hope on Hinlo, a trial lawyer before entering government service and whom he considered as the "new sheriff in town."
Under Executive Order No. 43, s. 2017 and its amendment Executive Order No. 73, s. 2018, the PACC shall directly assist the President in investigating and/or hearing administrative cases primarily involving graft and corruption against all presidential appointees, as defined in Sec. 5 thereof, and to perform such other similar duties as the President may direct.
The PACC is also authorized to conduct lifestyle checks and fact-finding inquiries on acts and omissions of all covered presidential employees, inside and outside of the executive branch of the government, which may be violative of the Constitution, or contrary to law, rules and regulations, and/or constitute serious misconduct tantamount to betrayal of public trust.