Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 1589

Introduced by BAYAN MUNA Representatives
CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE, FERDINAND R. GAITE and
EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT

AN ACT
REQUIRING PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES TO EXECUTE A WRITTEN
PERMISSION TO EXAMINE, INQUIRE OR LOOK INTO THEIR BANK
DEPOSITS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6713 (RA 6713)
OR THE ACT ESTABLISHING A CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICAL
STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE
‘This bill was first filed in the 17" Congress by Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate.

‘The 1987 Constitution explicitly provides that Public offic is a public trust, Public officers and employees
‘must, at all times, be accountable tothe people, serve them with utmost responsibilty, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency;
act with patriatism and justice, and lead modest lives (Ast XI, Sec 1). It likewise provides that The State shall
maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and
comuption (Act TI Sec. 27)

Sec. 2 of RA 6713 or ‘The Act Establishing a Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public
Officials and Employees, on the other hand, states that If és the policy of the State to promote a high
standard of ethics in public service. Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the peaple and
shall discharge their duties with utmost responsiblity, integrity, competence, and loyalty, act with patriotism and
justice, ead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest

‘To fulfill such policies, there is a need for additional measures to ensure that public officials and
employees adhere to the highest ethical standards. Despite having in place deterrents like the
annual filing of Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SALN), it does not stop public officials and
employees from hiding undeclared income which in turn hampers transparent governance and
anti-corruption mechanisms.

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


Approved,

,
A285
REP. otaeeaa T. E

Bayan Muna Party-list

REP- [D R. GAITE
Bayan Muna Panty-list

REP. EU! fia C. CULLAMAT

Bayan Muna Party-list


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._1589

Introduced by BAYAN MUNA Representatives
CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE, FERDINAND R. GAITE and
EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT

AN ACT
REQUIRING PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES TO EXECUTE A WRITTEN
PERMISSION TO EXAMINE, INQUIRE OR LOOK INTO THEIR BANK
DEPOSITS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6713 (RA 6713)
OR THE ACT ESTABLISHING A CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICAL
STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Section 8 (A) of RA 6713 or the ACT ESTABLISHING A CODE OF CONDUCT
AND ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES, is hereby
amended to read as follows:

Section 8. Statements and Disclosure. - Public officials and employees have an obligation to
accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their
assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests including those of their spouses
and of unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age living in their houscholds.

(A) Statements of Assets and Liabilities and Financial Disclosure. - All public officials and
employees, except those who serve in an honorary capacity, laborers
temporary workers, shall file under oath their Statement of Assets, Liabi
Worth and a Disclosure of Business Interests and Financial Connections and those of theit
spouses and unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age living in their households.

‘The two documents shall contain information on the following:

(@) real property, its improvements, acquisition costs, assessed value and current
fair market value;

(©) personal property and acquisition cost;


© all other assets such as investments, cash on hand or in banks, stocks, bonds,
and the like;

(@ liabilities, and;
© all business interests and financial connections.
‘The documents must be filed:
(@) within thirty (0) days after assumption of office;
(b) on or before April 30, of every year thereafter; and
(© within thirty (0) days after separation from the service.

All public officials and employees required under this section to file the aforestated
documents shall also execute, within thirty (30) days from the date of their assumption of
office, the necessary authority in favor of the Ombudsman to obtain from all appropriate
government agencies, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue, such documents as may
show their assets, liabilities, net worth, and also their business interests and financial
connections in previous years, including, if possible, the year when they first assumed any
office in the Government. THEY SHALL LIKEWISE EXECUTE A WRITTEN
PERMISSION FOR THE OMBUDSMAN TO EXAMINE, INQUIRE OR
LOOK INTO ALL THEIR BANK DEPOSITS, AS AN ADDITIONAL
EXCEPTION TO REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1405 OR THE BANK SECRECY LAW,
‘AS AMENDED.

Husband and wife who are both public officials or employees may file the required
statements jointly or separately.

‘The Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and the Disclosure of Business
Interests and Financial Connections shall be filed by:

(1) Constitutional and national elective officials, with the national office of the
Ombudsman;

@) Senators and Congressmen, with the Secretaries of the Senate and the House
of Representatives, respectively; Justices, with the Clerk of Court of the Supreme
Court; Judges, with the Court Administrator; and all national executive officials
with the Office of the President.

@) Regional and local officials and employees, with the Deputy Ombudsman in
their respective regions;

(4) Officers of the armed forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain, with
the Office of the President, and those below said ranks, with the Deputy
Ombudsman in their respective regions; and

6) All other public officials and employees, defined in Republic Act No. 3019, as
amended, with the Civil Service Commission.


SEC. 2. Effctvity Clause. This Act shall take effect immediately after its complete publication either
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

Abprove,