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BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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ILOILO City – At the regional office of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), a simple greeting of “Merry Christmas” or “thank you” for the good service done are enough for its officials and employees this holiday season.
“We are strictly enforcing the ‘No Gift Policy’,” said Atty. Jose Marie Lamparero, LTFRB-6 legal counsel.
He appealed to the transacting public not to give gifts to officials and employees of the agency because this violates Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).
“Even greeting cards, please don’t bother to give us those. Basi may gina-ipit nga kwarta sa card,” said Lamparero.
The “No Gift Policy” is in keeping with President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against corruption in government, he explained.
“If we accept gifts, the givers might expect us to give them special favors,” said Lamparero. “So, basi magkadto kamo sa office subong nga Christmas kag may dala kamo nga whisky, mga pagkaon, indi na lang.”
Lamparero, however, clarified that the “No Gift Policy” is being observed not only during the holidays but throughout the year.
LTFRB officials and employees violating this rule may be charged with violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Section 2 (c) of the Act defines “receiving any gift” as “the act of accepting directly or indirectly a gift from a person other than a member of the public officer’s immediate family, in behalf of himself or of any member of his family or relative within the fourth civil degree, either by consanguinity or affinity, even on the occasion of a family celebration or national festivity like Christmas, if the value of the gift is under the circumstances manifestly excessive.”
Section 3 (b) and (c) consider such act a corrupt practice:
* (b) Directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any gift, present, share, percentage, or benefit, for himself or for any other person, in connection with any contract or transaction between the Government and any other part, wherein the public officer in his official capacity has to intervene under the law.
* (c) Directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any gift, present or other pecuniary or material benefit, for himself or for another, from any person for whom the public officer, in any manner or capacity, has secured or obtained, or will secure or obtain, any Government permit or license, in consideration for the help given or to be given…
Violators face imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than 10 years, perpetual disqualification from public office, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the Government of any prohibited interest and unexplained wealth manifestly out of proportion to his salary and other lawful income (Section 9)./PN
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