Escudero pushing for anti-influence peddling law in the Senate

An anti-influence peddling law is being pushed at the Senate by opposition senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero amid the on-going brouhaha over the ZTE Broadband deal.

Senate Bill (SB) No. 1242 seeks to penalize influence peddling or the mere act of representing oneself to another person having a transaction or request with the government.

The bill, according to Escudero, seeks to set up an effective deterrent to nip corruption at the bud and prior to any damage being inflicted upon government coffers as well as on our people with legitimate transactions or dealings with the government.

Escudero said at present, there is no law that categorically penalizes a public official's mere act of influencing another public official to perform an act that does not constitute a crime.

Existing laws seeking to prevent or abate graft and corruption in the government such as the Republic Act (RA) 3019 also known as the "Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act." However, Escudero said there is a gap that needs to be filled in the said law.

He said, "Proof of consideration in influence peddling is difficult to prove as in the case of the ZTE broadband deal."

"Even the so-called whistle blower Joey de Venecia is having a difficult time confirming if money indeed exchanged hands in sealing the said deal, even if all fingers point to Commissioner Abalos, who has no business whatsoever in the affairs of the Department of Transportation and Communications," he added.