Accountable to the people at all times

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EDITORIAL
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Monday, February 26, 2018
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THE 1987 Constitution explicitly provides that “Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.” (Art XI, Sec 1)

It likewise provides that “The State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption.” (Art II Sec. 27)

Meanwhile, Sec. 2 of Republic Act 6713 or The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees states: “It is the policy of the State to promote a high standard of ethics in public service. Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest.”

However, despite having in place corruption deterrents like the annual filing of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, these have not stopped public officials and employees from hiding undeclared income, which in turn hampers transparent governance and anti-corruption mechanisms. The progressive party-list Bayan Muna has thus introduced a bill (House Bill 7146) to fulfill such policies. It suggests additional measures to ensure that public officials and employees adhere to the highest ethical standards.

The bill requires public officials and employees to execute a written permission to examine, inquire or look into their bank deposits.

This is very interesting. Will the members of the House of Representa-thieves approve this measure?

One provision of the Bayan Muna bill requires “all public officials and employees…to execute, within 30 days from the date of their assumption of office, the necessary authority in favor of the Ombudsman to obtain from all appropriate government agencies, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue, such documents as may show their assets, liabilities, net worth, and also their business interests and financial connections in previous years, including, if possible, the year when they first assumed any office in government.”

Let us see the reactions of our congressmen to this measure. From their reactions, we will know who has something to hide.
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