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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
After the People Power Revolution, the Presidential Commission on Good 
Government (PCGG) was created by Executive Order No. 1 issued by then 
President Corazon Aquino on February 28, 1986, to recover vast resources 
of the government allegedly amassed by former President Ferdinand 
Marcos, his immediate family, relatives, close associates, both here and 
abroad. 
Thereafter, President Aquino issued Proclamation No. 3 dated March 25, 
1986, establishing a revolutionary government, under which, authority to 
issue sequestration and freeze orders was vested upon PGGG. However, 
Section 26, Article 18 of the 1967 Constitution provides that the authors to 
issue such sequestration or freeze orders under Proclamation No. 3 shall 
remain operative only for not more than eighteen (18) months after the 
ratification of the Constitution. This authority has lapsed without having 
been extended by Congress which the latter could have done under the 
same Section 26, in case of national interest. 
More so, more than thirty-six (36) years have passed, and the PCGG has not 
produced significant accomplishments that would justify its continued 
existence. Through these years, the work performed by the Commission is 
not commensurate with the annual expenses needed to maintain the office. 
The time is ripe to abolish PCGG in line with the cost-saving and right-
2:25 pm
September 1, 2022
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sizing efforts of the government. 
 
The PCGG has outlived its usefulness and has now become a big 
embarrassment to the government.  The PCGG has been in existence for the 
last 36 years and it has been repeatedly reminded to do its job. Thirty-six 
(36) years are more than enough for any agency to perform its functions. If 
after that long period of time, they still failed to establish whether the 
sequestered assets are ill-gotten or not and who are the owners of these 
assets, they will not be able to do so even if we would give it another 
hundred years. It would be better to abolish the agency now.  
 
The abolition of the PCGG does not mean that the recovery of plundered 
wealth and its proper disposition will no longer be pursued. These 
functions should be transferred to government agencies that under the law 
can assume responsibility and has the expertise to competently undertake 
and continue such functions. 
 
Under this bill, the powers and functions of investigations and prosecution 
of criminal cases exercised by the PCGG shall be transferred to the 
Department 
of 
Justice; 
Civil 
cases 
involving 
the 
management, 
administration, and disposition of the assets, as well as the sequestration of 
the properties considered to be ill-gotten vested in the PCGG shall be 
transferred to and shall be exercised by the Department's Office of the 
Government Corporate Counsel. 
 
Furthermore, all sequestered real and personal assets and properties 
previously under the control and management of the PCGG, as well as all 
contracts, records, and documents relating to the operation of the PCGG are 
transferred to the Privatization Office of the Department of Finance. 
 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
 
BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR.                           
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
ABOLISHING THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON GOOD 
GOVERNMENT (PCGG) 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
session assembled: 
SECTION 1. The Presidential Commission on Good Government 
(PCGG} created under Executive Order No. 4, shall be abolished within 
six (6) months after the approval of this Act. 
SECTION 2. The powers and functions of investigations and 
prosecution of criminals exercised by the PCGG shall be transferred to 
the Department of Justice: Civil cases involving the management, 
administration, and disposition of the assets, as well as the 
sequestration of the properties considered to be ill-gotten vested in the 
PCGG shall be transferred to and shall be exercised by the Department's 
Office of the Government Corporate Counsel. For this purpose, alt 
records and documents relating to the investigation and prosecution of 
cases under the jurisdiction of the PCGG shall be transferred to the sand 
offices. 
SECTION 3. The management and the disposition of the assets 
and properties vested in the PCGG shall be transferred to, and shall be 
exercised by the Department of Finance through its Privatization Office 
which shall be headed by an Assistant Secretary designated by the 
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Secretary of Finance. For this purpose, all sequestered real and pers0nal 
assets and properties previously under the control and management of 
the PCGG, as well as all contracts, records, and documents relating to 
the operation of the PCGG are transferred to the Privatization Office. 
 
In coordination with the Commission on Audit, a physical 
inventory and complete accounting of the sequestered properties and 
assets shall be jointly made by the Department of Justice and 
Privatization Office within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this act. 
SECTION 4. Officials and employees of the PCGG may be 
absorbed by the Privatization Office or the Department of Justice on the 
basis of merit and fitness; Provided, that officers and employees who 
shall be separated from the service as a result of the abolition of the 
PCGG shall receive separation or retirement and other benefits to which 
they are entitled under existing laws. 
 
Any PCGG officer and employee who is re-employed in the 
government service for which he/she has been paid gratuity shall 
refund the unearned portion of such gratuity before his or her 
reemployment. 
 
SECTION 5. All contracts and agreements entered into by the 
PCGG prior to the effectivity of this Act shall remain in full force and 
effect unless otherwise terminated, modified, or amended for a lawful 
cause. 
 
SECTION 6. Every director/nominee, asset monitor, or 
representative 
assigned 
by 
the 
PCGC 
in 
any 
sequestered 
company/corporation, prior to the effectivity of this Act, shall submit to 
the Justice Secretary and the Secretary of the Department of Finance, a 
written and verified statement of his/her net worth, assets and liabilities 
before his/her appointment / designation as such as well as of his/her 
current net worth, assets and liabilities within thirty (30) days from the 
effectivity of this Act. 
 
SECTION 7. The unexpended appropriations of the PCGG under 
the current General Appropriations Act shall be transferred to the 


 
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Department of Justice and the Privatization Office. Thereafter, such 
amount as may be necessary for the continued operation of the 
Department of Justice, Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, 
and the Privatization Office pursuant to this Act shall be included in the 
annual appropriation of the said offices. 
 
SECTION 8. Executive Order No. 1 and all other laws, executive 
orders, rules, and regulations or any part thereof inconsistent herewith 
are deemed repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. In case any provision of this Act 
is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof 
which are not affected thereby shall continue ‹n full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 10. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days after its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
 
Approved,