House approves Anti-Influence Peddling bill

As endorsed by the House Committee on Revision of Laws, the House of

Representatives has approved on second reading the proposed statute penalizing influence
peddling in public transactions as contained in HB 4!"#
$he Committee, chaired by Rep# %arlyn L# &rimicias'Agabas, along with its
authors strongly defended the bill in plenary, entitled the (Anti')nfluence &eddling Act,*
in substitution of the original HB "++ principally authored by Rep# ,velina -# ,scudero#
(.e have to clip corruption at its inception by preventing the commission of
influence peddling,* ,scudero stressed as she e/pressed her gratitude to the support given
her measure by members of the committee, particularly those who enlisted as co'authors
li0e Rep# 1oselito R# %endoza, Rep# Henry 2# 3aminal and Chairperson &rimicias'
Agabas#
4nder HB 4!", influence peddling refers to (the act of representing oneself, either
orally or in writing, as being able, whether real or imagined, to influence, facilitate or
assist another person having some business, transaction, application, re5uest or contract
with the government in which the public official or employee has to intervene, in
consideration of any present, gift or material or pecuniary advantage#*
,scudero noted that e/isting law penalizes anyone who receives a present, gift or
any material or financial advantage as well as those who, without being legally authorized
to do so, actually intervenes, directly or indirectly, in any transactions, applications,
re5uests or contracts with the government#
However, the author pointed out, that prior to receiving any gift or the actual act of
intervening is the offer or representation made by a person that he can influence the public
official or employee re5uired by law to intervene or be able to assist in a transaction,
contract or re5uest with the government which, up to now, remains unabated#
()t is this gap that we want to fill by penalizing influence peddling or the mere act
of representing oneself to another person having a transaction or re5uest with the
government# $hus, clipping corruption at its initiation even before any gift or present is
given and even before there has actually been an intervention in connection with such
re5uest or transaction,* ,scudero said#
2ection 4 of the proposed law provides6 (Any person who engages in influence
peddling as defined by this Act shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than si/
789 years or a fine not e/ceeding one hundred thousand pesos 7&"::,:::9, or both, and
dis5ualification to hold public office#* 7;:9 dpt
NR # 3562B
AUG 18, 2014