MANILA – The Office of the Ombudsman admitted that it stopped the conduct of lifestyle checks on public officials as failure in such cases does not prove that an official is corrupt.
During a budget hearing at the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said the law covering lifestyle checks on public officials is “illogical” and should be amended.
“Nung umupo ako, pinatigil ko muna ang lifestyle check kasi matagal na ako may duda sa probisyon ng batas tungkol sa lifestyle check. Gusto ko i-propose sa Congress ang amendments sa [Republic Act] 6713 kasi ‘yung provisions there, malabo, walang hulog sa logic,” Martires said.
“Bakit ko pinatigil? What is living beyond your means? Iyong kumikita ng P50,000 a month, lives in a small house, nakaipon, bumili ng BMW na promo, zero interest, kayang-kaya niya hulugan, is he living beyond his means? I don’t think so. What he has are distorted values and distorted priorities,” he added.
RA 6713 is the law on Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public officials, which provides that “[P]ublic officials and employees and their families shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income” and that “they should not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form.”
“Ano’ng pakialam natin? Bakit natin siya huhusgahan na bumili ng BMW kahit ang bahay niya walang paradahan? Ano’ng pakialam natin sa buhay ng may buhay kung hindi naman siya nagnanakaw?” Martires said.
“We have to redefine what is living beyond your means. What is simple living to me may not be simple living to you or anyone,” he added./PN
