SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriquez, Jr.

"House Bill No, _ 3469

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution states that public office is a public trust and
that public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve
them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and
justice, and lead modest lives.

Further, Section 80 of Batas Pambansa Big. 881 otherwise known as the Omnibus
Election Code of the Philippines states among others that it shall be unlawful for any person,
whether or not a voter or candidate, or for any party, or association of persons, to engage in
election campaign or partisan political activity except during the campaign period.

However, some officials of the legislative and executive branches of our government
are now prematurely campaigning in the guise of commercial advertising and personal
advocacies.

Whatever reason these public officials may have in doing such advertisements is
immaterial. The fact remains that these advertisements give them undue advantage over
other prospective candidates, Further they may face conflict of interest should an
investigation be conducted by them on the products they are endorsing. Hence, this bill
seeks to prohibit product endorsement or personal advocacies by such public officials

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought

RUFUS B. ROI jUEZ

oe JR.


‘SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House BillNo. __ 3 469

ANACT
PROHIBITING PUBLIC OFFICIALS FROM ENDORSING OR ADVERTISING ANY
PRODUCT/SERVICE IN ANY FORM OR MEDIUM

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State
that public office is a public trust and that no public official shall endorse products which may
be deemed to be premature campaigning for public office. Likewise, there may be conflict of
interest if the public official will be involved in the investigation of the product endorsed,

SECTION 2, Ban on Product/Service Endorsement/Advertisement by Public Officials.
Al public officials, elective or appointive, are prohibited from endorsing or advertising any
product or service in any form or medium,

SECTION 3. Penalties. — Any public official who violates this Act shall be punished by: (1)
removal from office; (2) disqualification to hold any other position in the government; (3)
disqualification to run for any position in the next election and (4) fine in an amount not less
than double the amount of the value of the advertisement

SECTION 4. Separability Clause. — The provisions of this Act are hereby declared to be
separable, and in the event any part, section or provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, no other part, section or provision thereof shall be affected thereby.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. — All laws, parts of laws, executive orders, ordinances,
Tules and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION6. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (I5) days following the
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general
circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,