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FROM the
time of independence from the Americans, corrupt
government officials from all levels of government have
been resorting to the “mendacious practice” of hiding
their ill-gotten wealth through manipulated income-tax
returns (ITRs).
This has
got to stop, said Partido ng Masang Plipino-United
Opposition Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro,
especially since more people now—percentage-wise and in
absolute numbers—are poorer than ever before.
He
wants, through House Bill 3003 that he filed, to
strengthen the vaunted—but widely perceived to be still
weak—graft and corruption campaign of the
administration.
The bill
calls for the automatic publication of ITRs of all
elective and appointive national and local government
officials, as well as those in government financial
institutions and state-controlled companies.
Rodriguez said the bill requires the Department of
Finance, through the commissioner of the Bureau of
Internal Revenue to implement such publication of the
preceding taxable year returns within 60 days from the
last day of filing.
Rodriguez believes this bill would foil corrupt
government officials. “Positive and effective measures
against graft and corruption should be in place in order
to promote integrity and honesty in public service.”
Rodriguez also said his bill will effectively implement
the government policy of transparency and full public
disclosure to safeguard public interest.
“There
is a need to provide a continuing instrument of reform
to develop high moral values among government
officials,” Rodriguez said. “We must maintain our
mandate that a public office is a public trust and that
as public officers we owe our utmost allegiance to the
people.” |
