Simple living

Under the law prescribing norms of conduct, public officials and employees are supposed to observe “simple living.”

What does this mean?

 Section 4 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, Republic Act 6713, states: “Public officials and employees and their families shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income. They shall not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form.”

This section of RA 6713 also sets these other standards for public service: commitment to public interest, professionalism, justness and sincerity, political neutrality, responsiveness to the public, nationalism and patriotism as well as commitment to democracy, which includes public accountability.

 RA 6713 opens with a lofty declaration: “It is the policy of the State to promote a high standard of ethics in public service. Public officials and employees shall at all times be accountable to the people and shall discharge their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, competence and loyalty, act with patriotism and justice, lead modest lives, and uphold public interest over personal interest.”

Unfortunately, failure to observe these standards is not a prohibited act under the law. If it were, government ranks could be decimated by criminal indictments.

The Code of Conduct comes to mind following the demise of one of its co-authors, human rights lawyer Rene Saguisag.

 His death on April 24 has sparked nostalgia for the days not too long ago when the Senate was dominated by persons of above-average intellect who didn’t need a law to observe the standards set under RA 6713. 

As senator, Saguisag co-authored RA 6713 together with his respected uncle, former Senate president Jovito Salonga.

Saguisag was also the principal author of Republic Act 6770, the Ombudsman Act of 1989. The current occupant of the post must be making Saguisag turn over in his grave. 

Among the punishable acts under the Code of Conduct is failure to comply with Section 8: “Public officials and employees have an obligation to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age living in their households.”

To the eternal gratitude of crooks in government, the current ombudsman has become the biggest hindrance to the public’s right to know, as stated in this provision.

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There are also detailed provisions in the Code against the solicitation or acceptance, directly or indirectly, of gifts, favors, gratuity, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value in connection with the office or position of the recipient. If this provision would be applied, officials including the president cannot accept, for example, free rides on private jets of businessmen, lobbyists or Apollo Quiboloy. 

If these provisions on gift-giving would be fully implemented, the top ranks of government would be decimated.

Penalties for both principals and accomplices plus private conspirators include fines equivalent to one’s salary for up to six months, suspension for up to a year, removal from the post and permanent disqualification from public office. If a heavier penalty is prescribed under another law covering similar offenses, that law will apply. Certain offenses under RA 6713 warrant imprisonment of up to five years, fines of up to P25,000 or both. 

Saguisag drew controversy for legally defending the likes of Joseph Estrada in his plunder case and raising doubts about the guilt of convicted rapist-killer Antonio Sanchez. In adherence to the Code of Conduct, however, Saguisag tried to lead by example. Reporters who covered the Senate during his time remember him eschewing the free meals in the chamber because these were paid for with public funds.

He often mentioned that he lived with his family in a modest house in Makati. During Cory Aquino’s presidency, this prompted jesting comments from her executive secretary Joker Arroyo that perhaps Saguisag was too stupid to get rich.

Joker was joking, but for many government officials, unfortunately, failing to use public office for personal enrichment is sheer stupidity. People in this country in fact are ready to commit murder, literally, over public office because they see working in government as a path to personal wealth.

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The abuses and venality of some of the country’s brightest minds while occupying high office surely soured many Filipinos to more of the same, and made them open to electing clowns, thugs, plunderers and murderers (plus a tax-evading cokehead, if you ask the Dutertes) to run the government.

Incompetent? Corrupt? Greedy dynasts? So what, as long as they know how to share at least some of their wealth, ill-gotten or not. You can’t eat integrity. 

Persistent poverty and the deterioration of education, aggravated by suffering during the pandemic, have turned the Philippines into ayuda nation, with too many people preferring to depend on dole-outs and quick fixes instead of self-empowerment.

 This is evident in the quality of our political class and the results of elections. The composition of Congress illustrates how low the bar has fallen for qualifying as a legislator. Too many lawmakers don’t even know the law. At the height of the debates over the pension of military and other uniformed personnel, a senator we interviewed was completely clueless about what “MUP” meant.

 Remind them about the prescribed norm for “simple living,” and they will probably say, “Define ‘simple.’ ” 

They would argue that a “modest life” could be interpreted differently by a billionaire politician and a human rights lawyer too stupid to get rich. What’s “extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth” for the poor or middle class may be the way of life for the uber rich.

It is said that we deserve the government we get. Surely we deserve better. I’m eternally optimistic that we can still raise the bar for public office.