Bill seeks to criminalize padrino recommendations

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago is set to revive a bill seeking to penalize patronage politics in the bureaucracy.

This week Santiago will file the “Anti-Political Recommendations Bill,” which had been filed during the second regular session of the 14th Congress, amid reports that some ranking officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) were promoted with the endorsement of powerful politicians.

The senator said the bill aims to punish the acts of making and soliciting political recommendations from any public official or employee.

Violators can be fined up to P30,000, imprisoned for up to one year, or both fined and jailed. If an administrative probe establishes guilt, a government employee can be suspended or dismissed from the service.

Santiago said passing the bill into law will strengthen the bureaucracy by granting agencies their rightful discretion over the appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer or designation of their employees.

Santiago recommends that each appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer or designation, interim or otherwise, of a public officer or an employee shall be made without regard to any recommendation or statement, oral or written, with respect to any person who requests or is under consideration for such appointment by any member of the Senate or House of Representatives.

The same provision goes for any official of the national or local government, member of the judiciary, official of a political party and any other individual or organization.

“The violation proven in a proper administrative proceeding shall be sufficient cause for removal or dismissal of a public officer even if no criminal prosecution is instituted against such officer,” Santiago’s bill declares.

Yesterday, Santiago renewed her tirade against former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile for allegedly endorsing the appointment of Customs collector Rogel Gatchalian to the Port of Manila during the previous administration.

“You can see the practice of politicians who use influence to recommend persons to lucrative posts.  These corrupt officials place their own people in agencies perceived as corrupt,” Santiago said, adding that corruption in the BOC “stinks to high heavens.”

Although she was suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, Santiago managed to give a radio interview criticizing Enrile who admitted last week that he endorsed the promotion of Gatchalian.

But Enrile said he was surprised that Gatchalian was appointed as collector for the Port of Manila.

“My goodness me... they gave in to his request. Now he will even blame the Palace? A Customs collector at the Port of Manila is a very important position in the BOC. (Enrile) should know because he was a former Customs commissioner,” Santiago said.

She said the “padrino” system usually exists in departments or agencies where there are “lucrative” posts such as in the Department of Public Works and Highways, BOC, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Immigration, and Department of Transportation and Communications.

“If the politician is the one making the recommendation, it means he is lobbying for it,” she said.

Santiago called for a ban on political recommendations, saying the “padrino system” is another deplorable practice of epal or shameless politicians.

“There should be a presumption that it is a corrupt practice in the Philippines. There are no people in lucrative posts that were appointed because of their own merits. In corrupt offices, the longer you stay, the more corrupt you will get,” she said in pushing for the passage of the measure.

She said “epal” politicians already have their names displayed in every public infrastructure project earmarked through their pork barrel. “And now they want their names attached in people’s résumés? The nerve of these people,” Santiago said.

In a press statement, Santiago reacted to reports that senators and congressmen recommended the promotion of the alleged “three kings” at BOC, among them Gatchalian. The two others are Manila International Container Port collector Ricardo Belmonte and Ninoy Aquino International Airport district collector Carlos So.

Belmonte has denied having political backers, adding that he rose from the ranks and has been in the bureau for 34 years.

“Why should a senator or congressman meddle and influence how an agency of the executive branch hires its employees? If the person you backed turns out to be corrupt, what does it say about you as a politician?” Santiago said.

“Worse, the padrino system tends to bypass more qualified individuals to government positions in favor of ones with better political connections. Aside from being corrupt, they are unqualified. We should bring back meritocracy to the bureaucracy,” the senator said.

Santiago has a cousin in the BOC: Deputy Commissioner Horacio Suansing.