Leaders of the House of Representatives on Thursday supported the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for a lifestyle check on government officials, beginning with those of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“I’m in favor of that. If the President wants to start with the DPWH, well and good… But it must cover every [branch of government]—including the judiciary. There should definitely be a lifestyle check. I’m in favor of what the President has said,” Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., who chairs the House Committee on Human Rights, told a news conference.
Public accounts committee chairman Rep. Terry Ridon of Bicol Saro party-list said he believes there would be no problem if the lifestyle check would cover members of Congress and the judiciary.
“I think the call, of course, of the President [covers] all… But I’m also quite sure that he also wants to respect the co-equality of the branches of government,” Ridon said.
“I think there is no problem with having lifestyle checks on members of Congress, even members of the judiciary. Of course, it is necessary for that to be all-encompassing and more importantly, there are really expectations on all government officials, government employees, that we should be able to lead and live modest lives,” he noted.
Ridon said it is important that the lifestyle checks do not single out members of the DPWH, but would be conducted as well on people working in each and every political branch of government.
In a separate statement, Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima also reacted positively on subjecting public officials to lifestyle check, saying this is in line with the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
“Malinaw: Nasa gobyerno tayo para magserbisyo, hindi para ipagyabang, o ipangalandakan ang poder, ang yaman at luho sa kapwa Pilipino (It’s clear: We are in government to serve, not to boast or flaunt power, wealth, and luxury over our fellow Filipinos),” De Lima said.
“That lifestyle check must be accompanied by ‘corruption check’ and ‘accountability check,’ not just in the DPWH, but in all agencies and branches of government, as well as GOCCs (government-owned and -controlled corporations),” she added.
Malacañang announced President Marcos’ lifestyle check directive on Wednesday amid the government’s ongoing probe into alleged anomalous flood control projects, which were executed by private construction firms with questionable practices.
