2013 National Elections
Belgica ran as a candidate in the 2013 Philippine Senate election under the newly accredited Democratic Party of the Philippines,but failed to win a seat. [1] [2]
One of Belgica's campaign promises was a flat tax system for the Philippines;in particular,a simple,one-time,and one kind tax of not more than 10% only on net income on both individual and business profits. He also espouses belief in a limited and decentralized form of government,a free market,and Christian fundamentalism. He leads the campaign to convert the PDAF and other discretionary funds of politicians to tuition vouchers for all students and capital for families,individuals and businessmen. He believes that money and resources should be in the hands of people and not with politicians and government. [3]
Belgica is the founder of the Truth and Justice Coalition (TJC),a non-stock,non-profit non-government organization which envisions a progressive government where corruption is abhorred and public accountability prevails.
Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission
On January 12,2018,he was appointed Commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) under the Office of the President of the Philippines.
In a little under a week leading the PACC,Belgica would disclose during a press conference that he has gathered strong enough evidence to pin down the former President Benigno Aquino III over the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). He shared that he is highly confident that a conviction of the former President will be made. [8] [9] On October 15,2018,Belgica would file 274 counts of malversation of public funds at the Ombudsman through conspiracy against former President Aquino,as well as his administration officials,former Budget Secretary,Florencio Abad,former Transportation Secretary,Emilio Abaya,former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas,former Senators Franklin Drilon and Antonio Trillanes IV,and other subordinates. [10]
On November 13,2019,Belgica presented in a news conference a bribery attempt by Ifugao District Engineer,Lorna Ricardo. Ricardo was formerly the Assistant District Engineer of Davao City,who also faced cases filed by the Commission on Audit (COA) for substandard work. [11] [12]
PACC in 2019 commenced investigations on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials and their collusion with members of the House of Representatives on their pork barrel after receiving complaints. Belgica would conduct a press conference with Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo,who would later become figured in the flood control scandal of 2025. [13]
When asked to name names during the initial submission of the report to the President,Belgica refused as he felt it would compromise the investigation. [14] Belgica then shared that the scheme would involve congressmen selecting a contractor who then presents himself to the DPWH District Engineer,and the bidding is then rigged in favor of the contractor,who then gives the kickback to the District Engineer and the legislator. At the end only 50% of the budget actually goes to the project itself,resulting to sub-standard work. [15]
Belgica also put his sights on Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) during the Covid-19 pandemic,as the government owned insurance company face scrutiny after a number of resignation from midlevel managers,complaints over corruption,overpriced purchases,and manipulation by top executives. [16] [17]
On October 23,2020,employees of the Duty Free Philippines (DFPC) filed administrative and criminal complaints against Belgica for grave misconduct,conduct prejudicial to service,gross inexcusable negligence and violations of Republic Act No. 3019,or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act at the Ombudsman. This came out after the DFPC employees reported to Belgica on the abuse of the Supply Delivery Agreement by DFPC officials. The DFPC employees received a copy of the PACC report on the complaint they made,and found that none of the DFPC officials names were even mentioned by Belgica. [18] [19]
Belgica promised the DFPC employees that they would not shell out any money for legal fees,but the complaint indicated that the employees still shelled PhP 1,000 per page of their affidavit,amounting to PhP 130,000 in total. [18]
Using PACC's report,President Duterte,during his televised Monday night address on December 28,2020,disclosed the names of corrupt DPWH District Engineers and ordered their dismissal,as well as 9 legislators namely former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr.,Quezon City 5th District Rep. Alfred Vargas,Isabela 4th District Rep. Alyssa Tan,Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Paul Daza,Quezon 4th District Rep. Angelina Tan,ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Eric Yap,Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman,Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Sato,and Misamis Occidental 2nd District Rep. Henry Oaminal. Duterte would temper his broadcast by saying that there is no hard evidence,and that being named doesn't actual means guilt,and that the presumption of innocence still holds. [20] The named legislators denounced and denied their inclusion in Duterte's PACC list. [21] The House of Representatives meanwhile dared Belgica to file formal charges against the legislators,and considered the PACC report as malicious. [22] The PACC didn't file any case,and the DPWH District Engineers were only relieved from their posts. [23]
On August 21,2021,President Duterte would dismiss National Electrification Administration head Edgardo Masongsong,based on the recommendation of PACC due to graft. Masongsong denied the allegation. [24]
He resigned from his post in the PACC to run again for a Senate seat in the 2022 election. He ran under PDDS but lost,finishing 37th.
