Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero is proposing a new law that would prohibit relatives of government officials—up to the fourth degree of blood and legal ties—from becoming suppliers or contractors of the government.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Escudero said the move is in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s call to curb corruption, especially in light of the President’s recent statements about the misuse of public funds.
“Bilang katugunan sa panawagan ng Pangulo kaugnay sa corruption, conflict of interest, at hindi tamang paggamit ng pondo, maghahain kami ng panukalang batas…,” Escudero stated, emphasizing that such arrangements are a clear conflict of interest and should not be tolerated.
The Senate leader expressed hope that this measure would be considered among the priority bills in the upcoming Senate caucus.
President Marcos, in his fourth State of the Nation Address on Monday, took aim at public officials misusing funds, particularly those allocated for flood control projects. He called on the Department of Public Works and Highways to submit a list of such projects from the past three years and vowed accountability for any wrongdoing.
In response to the President’s strong message, former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson urged both houses of Congress to take it seriously. “The pronouncement that those involved in anomalies… should be ashamed should cut to the bone,” Lacson said in a radio interview, adding that anyone unaffected by such shame “would simply be bad to the bone.”
