Sotto, Alan Peter question doability of bill vs political recommendations

(Updated 5:47 p.m.) At least two senators on Monday questioned the doability of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago's proposal against politicians giving political recommendations to any public official.

 

Senator Vicente Sotto III said not all political recommendations, which Santiago said promotes the "padrino" system in the bureaucracy, can be easily traced.

 

"Paano kung wala sa papel? Paano kung may authority ako over you tapos sabihin ko lang sa 'yo, itong kapatid ko kailangan ng trabaho? Anong gagawin natin doon?" Sotto told reporters.

 

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano agreed that while he supports Santiago's proposal, it has to be made more practical.

 

"We have to study what we can do to make it work ... How do we make sure na lahat nga ng nasa gobyerno ay qualified?" Cayetano said in a separate interview.

 

He added that not all "padrinos" in the bureaucracy are politicians. "Baka naman tatanggalin natin ang mga pulitiko, tapos ang magiging padrino naman religious leaders, businessmen or drug lords... In the end, the question really is how to make this doable," he said.

 

On Sunday, Santiago pushed for the passage of her "Anti-Political Recommendations Bill," which proposes a jail term of up to one year for individuals found guilty of making and soliciting political recommendations from any public official or employee.

Malacañang, for its part, said that although the premise of the bill "sounds laudable" they cannot really comment on it yet.

"We have not seen a copy of the law.  Until we see the details of the bill itself, we really cannot comment on the specifics," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing on Monday.

'Normal'

 

Santiago's proposal came after some Customs officials revealed that some "powerful forces," supposedly including senators, of meddling in the affairs of the bureau.

 

Last week, Senator Francis Escudero called for a probe on the supposed "padrino" system in the Bureau of Customs.
 

Meanwhile, Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said that political recommendations are only "normal" in the bureaucracy.

 

"In all agencies, may mga nagpapatulong naman talaga. There's nothing extra-ordinary in that," Marcos said in a separate interview.

 

Neophyte Senator Nancy Binay, for her part, also said she does not see anything wrong with recommending another person for a post, as long as he or she is qualified for that position.

 

Asked if she agrees with Santiago's proposal to imprison those who give political recommendations, Binay quipped, "Parang ang hirap niyan kasi masikip na ang mga kulungan natin." — RSJ, GMA News