A BILL that will encourage whistle-blowers to come out in the open and expose anomalous transactions has hurdled the House appropriations committee, paving the way for plenary debates on the priority measure.
Proponents, however, are “uneasy” with the effect of striking out the program’s P100 million annual outlay and instead leaving it up to Congress to determine budget support under the annual General Appropriations Act.
“The removal of a definite budget in the bill itself elicits doubt about the government’s seriousness in protecting whistle-blowers,” Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy A. Casiño, one of the bill’s authors, said in a phone interview yesterday.
The still unnumbered substitute bill, which has earlier hurdled the justice committee, seeks to provide protection, security and benefits for whistle-blowers who voluntarily report and cause the prosecution of corrupt officials and employees, including immunity from administrative, civil or criminal liability.
Under the current practice, whistle-blowers who are involved in the anomalous transactions are uncertain of immunity from suit.
The bill is also proposing a monetary reward system to provide financial assistance to whistle-blowers whose lives “will be turned upside down” as a result of the disclosure.
Upon admission, a whistle-blower shall immediately receive P100,000 to P200,000 and an additional P50,000 to P100,000 upon filing of the case in court. Another P50,000 to P100,000 shall be given upon completion of the testimony of the whistle-blower.
The bill also protects whistle-blowers from all forms of reprisals and other retaliatory actions, including preventive suspension, dismissal and other prejudicial conduct by persons in authority.
The bill provides for the punishment for whoever would prevent whistle-blowers from testifying, from six months to six years in prison. False and misleading testimonies are, however, punished with six to 12 years in prison. The bill is among the 41 priority measures identified during the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council.
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By: Noemi M. Gonzales
Source: Business World, Nov. 16, 2011
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