Press Release
April 28, 2016

CHIZ RENEWS CALL FOR FELLOW BETS TO WAIVE BANK SECRECY RIGHTS

Independent vice-presidential bet Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero has issued a fresh call for national and local candidates to waive their rights under the bank secrecy law to make sure they are not keeping any ill-gotten wealth or won't enrich themselves once elected into office.

"The public deserves absolute transparency from those seeking elective posts on May 9 insofar as their financial status is concerned. I strongly believe that the only way we can satisfy voters is for us to waive our rights under the bank secrecy law," Escudero said.

Escudero renewed his call for candidates to allow public scrutiny of their bank deposits amid reports that presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte did not declare more than P200 million allegedly stashed in his bank account in 2014.

Republic Act No. 1405, or the Secrecy of Bank Deposits Act, provides that bank deposits may only be inquired into with a written permission of the depositor.

Since 2010, Escudero has been submitting together with his sworn Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) a written waiver on the secrecy of his bank deposits he files every year with the Office of the Ombudsman.

According to Escudero, there is a widespread perception that the country's restrictive bank secrecy law is being abused by individuals, particularly corrupt government officials, to prevent their bank accounts from being scrutinized.

"The only way to correct this perception is to require government officials and those running in the May 9 polls, including me, to waive this right under RA 1405," the seasoned lawmaker said.

RA 1405, which has been in place since 1955, prohibits disclosure of or inquiry into deposits with any banking institution, as well as provides penalties of imprisonment or fine for offenders.

Escudero said that if candidates would commit to such waiver, it will preempt those who will seek to amass illegal fortune at the expense of taxpayers.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue has been pushing for the lifting of the stringent bank secrecy law for the purpose of apprehending big-time tax evaders, smugglers and money launderers to hike tax collections.

However, critics are worried the revenue agency will use it against officials who are at odds with the administration or even malign private individuals.

Escudero said that he favors the lifting of confidentiality on bank deposits, including foreign currency accounts that are protected under RA 6426 or the Foreign Currency Deposit Act of 1974, but only insofar as government officials and employees are concerned. In fact, he added, there is a pending bill in the Senate for this purpose.

The two-term senator was referring to Senate Bill No. (SBN) 16, which he filed in July 2013. He also filed a similar bill in 2007 and 2010 during his first term as senator.

"Public office is a public trust and government officials and employees are all accountable to the public." Escudero said.

"To ensure that a government official or an employee does not use his or her position to plunder public coffers, it is necessary that we put in place a mechanism that will enable the government to audit the finances of civil servants," he added.

Escudero said SBN 16, if enacted into law, will enable the government to audit the finances of all civil servants, including the President.

SBN 16 seeks to compel government officials and employees, except those who serve in an honorary capacity, to submit a written permission or waiver in favor of the Ombudsman to look into all deposits of whatever nature with banks within and outside the country, including investments in government bonds.

The waiver will be submitted within 30 days from the date of their assumption into office. Those who are already working in government, upon the effectivity of the law, will have to submit the waiver not later than 30 days from promulgation of the rules and regulations implementing the law.

Any public official or employee who fails or refuses to submit such waiver will be barred from entering or continuing the functions of his or her office.

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