Political backer system in hiring, promoting employees in BOC no longer tolerated
By Roel Tibay
Published Nov 27, 2018 07:34 pm
By Betheena Unite
Political backer system in hiring and promoting employees in the Bureau of Customs will no longer be tolerated.
Instead of airing a stern warning to his people about the “No to political backer” policy, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero issued a memorandum order within the bureau to stop the infamous practice.
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero
(BOC / MANILA BULLETIN) All Customs officials and employees through a memorandum dated November 19 were told to do away from the “solicitation of favor” and “political backer” practices, which have been around for many years now. According to the memorandum, “any official or employee attempting to be designated or reassigned to a desired position through the use of political backer shall be dealt with penalties.” Under the law, a public official or employee who engaged in peddling influence and asking favors may be fined or face suspension, imprisonment, or disqualification to hold public office at the most. The “No solicitation of favor and No to political backer” policy, Guerrero said, is pursuant to Sec. 7d of Republic Act No. 6713 otherwise known as Code of Conduct Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. “This administration is intent on applying the full force of the law and will not hesitate to apply all forms of penalties be it administrative or criminal, to anybody found willfully and knowingly violating this directive,” Guerrero said in the memorandum. Same time last year, former Customs Chief Isidro Lapeña also warned customs employees and even people outside the bureau to stop influence peddling for their relatives to secure a position in the bureau. The practice was then dubbed as "MBA," which was known within the bureau as "May Backer Ako" or "May Bayad Ako." It is a popular slang when an applicant tries to secure a job in the bureau using influence.
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero(BOC / MANILA BULLETIN) All Customs officials and employees through a memorandum dated November 19 were told to do away from the “solicitation of favor” and “political backer” practices, which have been around for many years now. According to the memorandum, “any official or employee attempting to be designated or reassigned to a desired position through the use of political backer shall be dealt with penalties.” Under the law, a public official or employee who engaged in peddling influence and asking favors may be fined or face suspension, imprisonment, or disqualification to hold public office at the most. The “No solicitation of favor and No to political backer” policy, Guerrero said, is pursuant to Sec. 7d of Republic Act No. 6713 otherwise known as Code of Conduct Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. “This administration is intent on applying the full force of the law and will not hesitate to apply all forms of penalties be it administrative or criminal, to anybody found willfully and knowingly violating this directive,” Guerrero said in the memorandum. Same time last year, former Customs Chief Isidro Lapeña also warned customs employees and even people outside the bureau to stop influence peddling for their relatives to secure a position in the bureau. The practice was then dubbed as "MBA," which was known within the bureau as "May Backer Ako" or "May Bayad Ako." It is a popular slang when an applicant tries to secure a job in the bureau using influence.