THE GOVERNMENT is barely making a dent in the campaign against corruption because of the circuitous legal process that allows government officials convicted of corruption or even plunder too much leeway to avoid jail time and even seek public office.
There is public frustration over the persistence of corruption in government because the law itself gives too much tolerance on government officials who are already convicted for various forms of graft and corruption.
What should be done? There is an interesting proposal, House Bill 92 which seeks to amend the Omnibus Election Code to automatically disqualify anyone from seeking or holding any government post once convicted for felonies where the penalty imposed includes temporary or perpetual disqualification from holding any public office, even if there are still options for appeal.
The bill seeks to amend sections 12 and 68 of the Omnibus Election Code to include the provision which states that “should the order or judgment imposing the sentence be brought up on appeal, the person so sentenced shall still be disqualified until such time the appeal reverses the conviction and acquits such person.”
The bill also states that “any person convicted or sanctioned for any offence in any court, tribunal or body shall likewise be disqualified from being declared a candidate or, if elected, from holding public office pending appeal of such conviction or sanction, where the penalty imposed includes temporary or perpetual disqualification.”
Interesting indeed. These proposed amendments in the Omnibus Election Code could prevent people who are convicted of graft and corruption from holding tenure in any public office by simply delaying the full execution of their conviction through a series of long and circuitous appeals and other delaying tactics.
We are losing the war against graft and corruption because there’s just too much room to circumvent the law. Grafters and plunderers have amassed so much wealth that they can already afford to appeal their case and delay the process for as long as they want. This is unacceptable.
