World | Philippines
Whistleblowers encouraged to expose corruption
A Bill that aims to encourage "whistleblowers" to identify corrupt government officials has been filed at the Senate.
- By Gilbert Felongco, Correspondent
- Published: 00:44 February 3, 2008
Manila: A Bill that aims to encourage "whistleblowers" to identify corrupt government officials has been filed at the Senate.
Senate Bill 2040 filed by Senator Panfilo Lacson is directed at providing incentives and protection to individuals who can provide information concerning the corrupt activities of government officials.
"It is high time we encouraged whistleblowers to expose corruption. This may well be a challenge to Malacanang [the presidential palace] as well. If it is serious about fighting corruption, it should certify the Bill as urgent," Lacson said.
Lacson filed the Bill shortly after Rodolfo Noel Lozada Junior, a witness in the anomaly-ridden $329 million (Dh1.2 billion) contract with China's ZTE Corporation, flew out of the country amid perceived threats to his life.
Lozada Junior flew out of the country on Wednesday, the day he was supposed to appear before the Senate inquiry into the deal, which has since been scrapped following allegations of overpricing and kickbacks.
Earlier, Lacson said Lozada did not testify at the Senate on Wednesday because of pressure - including threats and "incentives" - from the Palace.
Livelihood
Lacson noted the highlight of his Bill is a rewards-and-benefits system aimed at ensuring the livelihood and welfare of whistleblowers.
Under the Bill, whistleblowers must make a disclosure that is voluntary, in writing and under oath.
The Bill also states the information provided must be corroborated and the information must lead to a successful gathering of evidence and/or investigation.
Protection to the whistleblower includes confidentiality of his identity and the subject matter.
In turn, the whistleblower must agree to provide information and testify; avoid committing a crime and take "all necessary precautions to avoid detection".
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