Press Release
November 16, 2009

Senate panel proposes enactment of whistleblower law,
amendment of two laws

Following the botched $329-million national broadband network - ZTE deal, the Senate blue ribbon committee has proposed the enactment of a law that would protect people who will expose anomalies or misconducts in public or private agencies.

Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman of the Senate panel, filed a bill entitled, "An Act Providing for Whistleblower Bill of Rights," as well as amendments to two other existing laws.

"In the committee report, we have recommended the creation of a whistleblower law and the amendment of two other laws. Senate inquiries are conducted in aid of legislation, hence these recommendations," he said.

"Wala tayong batas ng whistle blower, meron tayong batas sa state witness. Ano ba ang whistle blower? A whistle blower is somebody who reports or exposes an offense na hindi kasama o hindi nagkaroon ng partisipasyon sa nasabing maling gawain. Maaaring inalok siyang sumama pero tinanggihan niya at ibinunyag pa ito. Under my proposed law, mabibigyan ng proteksyon ang mga whistleblowers," he added.

The proposed measure intends to encourage citizens to stand up and report alleged violations of law, improper use of governmental office, gross waste of funds, or any other abuse or gross neglect of duty on the part of an agency, public officer or employee, and private entity.

It also seeks to strengthen accountability and reduce corruption in the public and private sectors by protecting citizens, who disclose wrongdoings, from retaliatory acts.

The Senate panel also seeks to amend Executive Order No. 230 also known as the Reorganization Act of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The proposed amendment seeks to add six more members to the NEDA Board, four of which will come from the business or private sector to ensure that their interest will be considered in formulating continuing, coordinated and fully integrated social and economic policies, plans and programs of the government.

Gordon said his committee also proposed amending Section 5 or Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act by imposing an absolute prohibition on spouses or relatives, by consanguinity or affinity, within the third civil degree, of the President, Vice President, Senate President or the Speaker of the House of Representatives to do business with the government by removing the exemptions.

The amendment seeks to prevent a repeat of the botched broadband deal, wherein the son of the Speaker of the House, was reportedly lobbying, along with another official, for the contract.

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