Sandro Marcos files bill barring relatives from gov't contracts
MANILA, Philippines — House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos, the president’s son himself, filed a bill seeking to bar relatives of public officials from securing government contracts.
He touted this bill amid investigations into flood control corruption, with the media reporting familial ties between several public officials and owners of construction firms winning multi-million-peso contracts.
As President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. fully unveiled the executive’s Independent Commission for Infrastructure on Monday, September 15, Sandro shared on Facebook House Bill 3661, which he filed in August.
What it covers. The measure seeks to disqualify relatives of public officials up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from participating in government contracts.
Immediate and extended family, including first cousins, cousins-in-law, and nieces and nephews-in-law, will be affected and barred from holding government contracts.
“By closing this loophole, we take another step toward a government that is fair, transparent, and truly for the people,” Sandro said in a post.
Definition. Public officials, as defined by the bill, encompass agency and department heads, procuring entity leaders, governing board members, and employees with policy or managerial functions, including those in military and uniformed service.
While the bill does not specifically mention members of Congress, the appropriate committee could review and amend it to include them if deemed necessary.
“Government funds are meant to serve the Filipino people, not to enrich relatives or perpetuate undue advantage. … We owe it to every taxpayer to safeguard every peso. This is what genuine public service demands,” Sandro said.
Lawmakers with contractor relatives
According to the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism’s list of legislators linked to government contractors, some of the lawmakers whose family owns a construction firm include the following:
- Rep. Elizaldy Co (Ako Bicol Party-list)
- He co-founded Sunwest Inc., from which he has reportedly divested.
- He is the brother of Hi-Tone co-founder Christopher Co and sister of FS Co Builders and Supply’s managing officer Farida Co.
- Rep. Munir Arbison (Sulu, 2nd District)
- He is reportedly related to Nirrain Construction and Supply Corp.’s top shareholder Ash-Shahid Arbison.
- Rep. Augustina Dominique “Ditse Tina” Pancho (Bulacan, 2nd District)
- Her family reportedly owns C.M. Pancho Construction Inc.
- Rep. Alyssa Michaela Gonzales (Pampanga, 3rd District)
- Her family reportedly owns A.D. Gonzales Jr. Construction and Trading Company Inc.
- She is the daughter of former Senior Deputy Speaker Dong Gonzales Jr.
- Rep. Edwin Gardiola (CWS Party-list)
- He is related to shareholders of Newington Builders, Lourel Development Corp., and S-Ang Construction & General Trading Inc.
- Newington Builders was previously named after him, E. Gardiola Construction.
- Reps. Jolo Revilla, Lani Mercado-Revilla and Bryan Revilla
- Jolo and Bryan’s aunt is a shareholder of Graia Construction Corp., while she is Lani’s sister-in-law.
- Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez (1-Rider Party-list)
- He is the brother and son of Alro Construction and Development Corp.’s two shareholders.
Other lawmakers who reportedly serve as a construction firm’s official include Rep. Carlos Loria (Albay, 2nd District), Rep. Cristina Angeles (Tarlac, 2nd District), Rep. Jernie Jett Nisay (Pusong Party Party-list) and Rep. Ferdinand Beltran (Magbubukid Party-list).
Meanwhile, in the Senate, Sen. Bong Go’s father owns CLTG Builders, while his half-brother owns Alfrego Builders and Supply.
Apart from Congress, the Commission on Audit, which oversees the proper use of public funds, has admitted a conflict of interest, as Commissioner Mario Lipana’s wife serves as president of Olympus Mining and Builders Group Philippines Corp.
A counterpart measure has also been filed in the Senate through Sen. Chiz Escudero’s Senate Bill 783.
Lawmakers’ ties trigger independent probe
Both the House and the Senate have launched legislative probes into anomalous flood control projects. However, in each chamber, resource persons have testified that lawmakers from the other chamber allegedly received kickbacks from these contracts.
RELATED: Discayas tag House lawmakers, DPWH officials in kickback schemes—but no senators | DPWH engineer claims Estrada, Villanueva accepted 30% cut in flood control contracts
This was among the reasons why the president established the Independent Commission for Infrastructure. Marcos even said House Speaker Martin Romualdez, his cousin, and Co “will not be spared” from the probe.
The independent body will be chaired by retired Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr. Its members include former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson and SGV country managing partner Rossana Fajardo, with Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong serving as special adviser.
RELATED: Who's who: Members of Marcos’ independent flood probe
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