In order to speed up the disposition of lifestyle check (LSC) investigations involving officials and personnel of the Department of Finance and its attached agencies, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales designated a Special LSC Fact-Finding Team to ensure that high-value and high-impact LSC cases are prioritized.
As an anti-corruption measure, lifestyle check is an investigation strategy developed to determine the existence of ill-gotten and unexplained wealth of government officials and employees.
Under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713), all public officials and employees including their families shall lead modest lives appropriate to their position and income.
Further, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Section 8 of RA 3019) states that a public official can be dismissed if he has been found to have acquired during his incumbency, whether in his name or in the name of other persons, property and/or money manifestly out of proportion to his salary and other lawful income. Generally, the indicators of unexplained wealth are manifestly excessive expenditure, unexplained bank deposits, and ostentatious display of wealth, including frequent travels abroad.
Ombudsman Morales directed the team to coordinate with fact-finding bodies or agencies to ensure the adequacy of evidence and prioritize the survival rate of fact-finding investigation.
Aside from the fact-finding investigation panel, a separate special panel was reconstituted to conduct preliminary investigation and administrative adjudication including the filing of informations and petitions for forfeiture before the proper courts, where warranted. (Office of the Ombudsman)
