FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

1683

House Bill No.

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution provides that “a public officer or employee shall, upon
assumption of office and as often thereafter as may be required by law, submit
a declaration under oath of his assets, liabilities and net worth. In the case of
the President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Cabinet, the Congress,
the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Commissions and other constitutional
offices, and. officers of the armed forces with general or flag rank, the
declaration shall be disclosed to the public in the manner provided by law."

In complying with this constitutional provision under the enabling law
Republic Act No. 6713, many public officials complacently submit statements of
assets, liabilities and net worth which do not reflect their actual wealth or
lifestyle. Often times this act is intended to hide ill-gotten wealth. The common
Practice is to place an asset in the name of a dummy, who is usually a close
relative of the public official

This bill seeks to remedy this prevalent corrupt practice by imposing the
penalty of removal from public office on a public official who places any of
his/her assets in the name of dummies. A public official who does so shall
forfeit all his rights to the property in favor of the dummy. Public officials shall
also be prohibited from acquiring any property from a relative within the tenth
(10") civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, while holding public office and
within twenty (20) years from the time he/she left the civil service. This may be
an effective way of punishing the public official for his deviousness.

Immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
s

RUFUSB. Wo

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

1683

House Bill No.

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

AN ACT

AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6713, ALSO KNOWN AS AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR
PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES, TO UPHOLD THE TIME-HONORED
PRINCIPLE OF PUBLIC OFFICE BEING A PUBLIC TRUST, GRANTING
INCENTIVES AND REWARDS FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE,
ENUMERATING PROHIBITED ACTS AND TRANSACTIONS, PROVIDING
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Republic Act No. 6713 is hereby amended by the addition
of the following provisions:

“Section 11-A. Assets in the Name of Dummies.

(a) The penalty of removal from public office shall be imposed
upon a public official who places any of his or her assets in the name of
a dummy.

(b) A public official who places an asset in the name of a dummy
shall be estopped from claiming any interest and asserting any right of
ownership over such asset. Such asset shall be forfeited in favor of the
dummy who shall be recognized by law as the actual and real owner of
the property.

Sec. 11-B. Disqualification of Public Official from Acquiring
Property from Relatives. - Public officials are prohibited from acquiring
any property from a relative within the tenth (10") civil degree of
consanguinity or affinity, while holding public office and within twenty
(20) years from the time he or she left the civil service. Property acquired
in violation of this section shall not vest ownership upon the public
official and all his subsequent transactions and dealings on the said


property shall be void ab initio. The relative from whom the property
comes shall retain all rights of ownership with respect to the property.”

SEC 2. Separability Clause - If any provision, or part hereof, is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not
otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SEC 3. Repealing Clause - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified or amended accordingly.

SEC 4, Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,