Chiz to Cabinet officials: Resign now if you plan to run

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Sunday urged Cabinet officials who are certain of their plans to run for office next year to quit their posts now so they can avoid accusations of using public funds to further their political ambitions.

 

In an interview over dzBB radio, Escudero said voters have grown to be discerning and can now sense if appointed officials are promoting themselves using government resources.

 

“Whoever in the Cabinet or appointed by the president who is sure of running in 2016 should look at themselves in the mirror and ask themselves if they’re already decided. If they are, it’s time for them to quit,” he said.

 

While those who are still undecided about running can remain in their posts, Escudero said it will be best if officials who are mulling joining the electoral race be conscious of how they spend their respective agencies’ funds.

 

“These officials have to make sure they don’t spend government funds for self-promotion or their own interest,” he said.

 

Calls for Cabinet officials who are eyeing electoral posts mounted after Vice President Jejomar Binay resigned from the President Benigno Aquino III’s official family last week.

 

Among the Cabinet officials reportedly considering running for office in 2016 is Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the Liberal Party's presumptive standard-bearer.

 

Metro Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) chief Joel Villanueva are also reportedly considering running for senator, and Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla may run for either a Senate seat or a local post.

 

Allow gov't officials to pay

 

With deliberations for the 2016 national budget set to start in August, Escudero said he will ask the Commission on Audit and agencies which regularly come up with infomercials-- sometimes featuring government officials-- to explain who paid for their airing.

 

He said he is also working with COA to come up with guidelines on how government officials should use government resources such as their service vehicles in functions that are unrelated to work.

 

Escudero said that in US, the cost of trips made by the President might be split between the national government, his party and himself if the travel will be for a mix of work, political campaign and leisure.

 

Taking after the US government’s system, Escudero said COA should also devise a way for government officials to spend for use of government resources under certain circumstances which may be unrelated to their work.

 

"I hope the COA can come up with a system where government officials can pay for their own use of government resources under certain circumstances so it won’t be considered as graft outright,” he said. — Xianne Arcangel/JDS, GMA News