By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Enraged by reports that some government officials are “choosy” in distributing government aid, House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo filed a bill on Thursday (27 June 2024) seeking to impose stricter penalties, including jail term and perpetual disqualification to “selective” government officials in giving assistance to their constituents.
Tulfo’s still unnumbered House Bill entiled “An Act Penalizing Selective, Discretionary, and Discriminatory Acts in the Delivery of Cash, Livelihood, or Relief Assistance Programs of Local Government Units (LGUs),” will impose a jail term of six months to one year and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
“Lagi nating naririnig ang problema na namimili si government official ng bibigyan niya ng ayuda mula sa gobyerno tuwing may kalamidad, pero wala namang nangyayari sa reklamo dahil walang napaparusahan dahil walang batas laban dito,” Tulfo noted.
Tulfo said in his bill that there are instances wherein local government officials select and prioritize the recipients of the assistance programs based on personal considerations.
“Usong-uso ito sa ating bayan na pinipili lang ni opisyal ang bibigyan ng ayuda dahil hindi niya ito supporter,” Tulfo claimed.
“Dapat ang ayuda ay walang pinipiling kulay. Dapat kahit anong partido ka, mapapula, berde, dilaw, pink, puti, it does not matter,” the lawmaker added.
He expressed belief that such an abhorent practice is directly violative of the principles of accountability and transparency in government service.
“Ang iba namang opisyal inuuna ang mga kamag-anak tulad ng nangyari noong pandemic. Dapat hindi ganun,” Tulfo stressed.
Tulfo said he will ask his colleagues from the ACT-CIS partylist Reps. Edvic Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, and Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Wendel Tulfo, to be his co-authors on the said bill.
(el Amigo/mnm)
