Mikey files whistle-blower protection bill

Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo proposed yesterday a rewards and protection system for tipsters who offer relevant information and evidence against public officials and employees engaged in graft, corruption and other crimes.

Arroyo filed House Bill 2388 or the proposed Philippine Informants Act of 2004 in support of the intensified government campaign for a credible and honest bureaucracy.

"While there are laws in place to combat malfeasance in public office, the struggle against the evil of graft and corruption can only gain significant ground if the general public itself will take an active role in the disclosure of criminal acts and omissions and in the prosecution of errant public officers and employees," he said.

He also said that the continued existence of graft and corruption in government erodes the core values of integrity and dedication to public service.

With the general public taking an active role in fighting corruption, basic services will be efficiently extended to the Filipino people and the tarnished reputation of the government may be redeemed, he said.

Arroyo said that while other countries, like Korea, New South Wales in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have passed laws protecting whistleblowers, the Philippines has yet to pass legislation explicitly providing guidelines for well-meaning informants.

These incentives cover the range of protection needs of the whistleblower, names the agencies in charge of implementing policies and programs for the protection and rewarding of informants, and defines the roles of various stakeholders.

Under HB 2388, the amount of reward for informants will be based on the salary grade of the subject public officer or employee - from P10,000 to P10 million.

The bill also seeks to provide protection of the tipster from retaliatory acts and suits from the subject public officials and employees.

In addition, the informants will be assured of a share of recovered proceeds from the offenses and privileges under the Witness Protection Program and that all information and evidence they provide will be classified.