FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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

House Bill No. 2574

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. RODRIGUEZ

MAXIMO'B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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

House Bill No. 257 t

AN ACT
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. All 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, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.


SECTION 6. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
following

the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper
of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved