12-year jail term for 'fixers' sought

MANILA, Philippines - Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy has proposed heavier penalties for fixers to curb corruption in government offices.

She has filed House Bill 3905, which seeks to amend Section 12 of Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 by lengthening the jail term for fixers from less than six years to a maximum of 12 years, and increasing the imposable fine from P100,000 to P1 million.

She said although the anti-red tape law took effect three years ago, only a handful of cases involving violations of the statute have been filed in courts. 

“This, despite the fact that fixers abound in various national and local government offices,” she said.

She expressed confidence that the imposition of stiffer penalties on fixers would deter violations of the anti-graft and corrupt practices law.

“In the light of the Aquino administration’s campaign to reduce graft and corruption in public service, there is an imperative need to strengthen the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 to upgrade its competence in promoting transparency in government affairs and integrity and honesty among government servants,” Herrera-Dy said.

She cited the 2008 World Bank report on Worldwide Governance Indicators, which showed the Philippines at the bottom of the list of East Asia’s 10 largest economies when it comes to control of corruption.

“Corruption has long been a hindrance to development of this country and has been a threat and discouragement to prospective foreign as well as domestic investors in the country,” she said. “Moreover, this fact does not only worsen the image of the government of the country but the entire Filipino race as a whole,” she said.

She said she was confident that the House leadership would include her bill in its list of priorities for the second half of the first regular session of Congress.

She made the statement following Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.’s disclosure that the House is now ready to discuss legislative priorities with Malacañang.