Senate OKs ban of execs’ relatives in government contracts

CEBU, Philippines — The Senate unanimously approved on third and final reading a bill barring relatives of public officials from participating in government contracts involving agencies where their relatives hold office, a measure prompted by recent anomalies in public infrastructure projects.

Voting 15-0, with no abstentions, senators on Wednesday passed Senate Bill No. 1962, authored by Sen. Francis Escudero.

The measure, which Escudero filed in July last year while he was still Senate President, explicitly disqualifies relatives of public officials up to the fourth degree of consanguinity from participating in state procurements and imposes corresponding penalties for violations.

Once signed into law by President Marcos Jr., violators could face up to three years in prison, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and a minimum fine of P100,000. The measure is among the priority bills of the Marcos administration.

During Wednesday's session, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said the bill was drafted in direct response to recent controversies involving government contracts.

"And the intention of the bill is to prevent circumvention of some families to corner construction contracts in DPWH and other infrastructure agencies,” he said.

Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the prohibition should also firmly apply to "Pharmally type deals," stressing that the law should prevent "politicians public servants to be supplying medicines all sorts of uh all sorts of materials to government."

To avoid delaying the measure's approval, Zubiri agreed not to impede its passage on third reading on the condition that the bill's broad language and specific exemptions involving standard licenses would be thoroughly discussed and clarified during the upcoming bicameral conference committee.

The counterpart measure at the House of Representatives, where several members are facing prosecution and investigation over alleged conflicts of interest in government contracts, remains pending at the committee level, according to the chamber's website. — Philippine Star News Service/FPL (FREEMAN)