The country’s workers may finally get some relief next month if we are to believe Secretary Silvestre Bello’s words about regional wage boards coming out with recommendations on wage increases.
It is important that the Duterte administration alleviate the conditions of Filipinos given the effect of higher prices. The President must realize that wages are a gut issue—perhaps more than any other government concern.
History tells us that when people get hungry, they contemplate a revolution.
I am not saying that a revolution is imminent. Still, listening to what workers have to say is urgent.
The coming wage increase may not satisfy the demands of all labor groups, but it would be at least a sign that the government is listening.
* * *
As far as I am concerned, Solicitor General Jose Calida has found himself in a hole of his own making. He may not be able to extricate himself from this.
He admitted that he has yet to divest himself of his business interest in a private security agency that has snared more than P150 million in contracts from various government agencies.
Did he not know that what he was doing smacked of a clear conflict of interest? That was in violation of Section 30 (1) of Republic Act 6713, otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. The law says there is conflict of interest when a public official is a member of the board or a substantial stakeholder of a public corporation or business or his rights or duties therein may be opposed to or affected by the faithful performance of his duty.
Isn’t this clear enough?
The same law, in Section 4, also states that it is unlawful for any person having family or close personal relations with public officials to capitalize or exploit or take advantage of such family or close personal relations by directly or indirectly requesting pecuniary advantage from other persons having some business, transaction, application, request or contract with the government.
On these alone, my gulay, Calida has no choice but to resign. That is, if he has any self-respect or delicadeza left.
Calida claims he has resigned as chairman and president of his security agency. But records show that he still owns 60 percent of that company—he still controls it even as his wife heads the firm with his sons having interest.
Calida now comes out with the copout that the law is either resign from management or divest.
But the bottom line is that he still owns the security firm that has contracts with at least three government agencies: The National Economic and Development Authority, the National Anti-Poverty Commission and the National Parks Development Corp.
I had a good laugh when Calida said that as solicitor general, he is not covered by the ethics law since he is not a cabinet member. Not a cabinet member when he holds a cabinet rank?
Calida’s case will test the President’s fight against graft and corruption.
* * *
In yesterday’s column, I sought the investigation of some government-owned and -controlled corporations. The Commission on Audit found that at least five lawyers of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel had P621,000 in excess allowance.
The law is clear that while government corporate lawyers could receive allowances, these should not exceed half of their salaries.
But COA records shows that the five collectively received P372 million, when the 50-percent threshold should have been only P3.1 million.
Why do GOCCs give that much to their lawyers, exceeding what the law allows, if they are not holding something? Are they hiding excessive travels, hiring of consultants, great perks and other irregularities?
* * *
After President Rodrigo Duterte certified the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law as urgent, there are hopes that both the Senate and House of Representatives will rush its passage.
But there are still unconstitutional provisions in the proposed BBL that should be threshed out. One of these is whether the Philippine National Police will still have control of the police under the BBL.
Another contentious provision is whether the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will be dissolved. This will entail the amendment of the 1987 Constitution.
There is no doubt that Mindanao needs the BBL, but it should not be enacted in haste.
**
I fully support the President’s war on corruption. Corruption is something that has been endemic in government. Other presidents have tried—but failed.
If there is anybody who can at least reduce corruption in government, it is President Duterte. He has the political capital. He has the resolve to do it.
Still, he must know that he must have some proof of the alleged wrongdoing before calling the officials out—or else their reputations get tarnished for good.
Once a person is cited for alleged corruption, he or she is condemned forever, guilty or not.