Civil Service Commission (CSC) Commissioner Aileen Lizada on Monday, April 15 reminded public officials and employees that accepting gifts or monetary items while performing official duties is against the law.

In the “Bagong Pilipinas” public briefing, the CSC official commented on former Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson’s P200,000 reward offer to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) after traffic enforcers apprehended his two-vehicle convoy for using the EDSA busway on April 8.

“I'd like to stress this, while maganda siguro yung intention niya baka hindi lang ho alam ng official po na meron ho tayong batas na ganito (I'd like to stress this, while his intentions are probably good, maybe the official just doesn't know that we have a law like this),” she said.

Lizada was referring to Section 3 of RA 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which clearly states that "public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gratuity, gift, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction, which may be affected by the functions of their office.”

“Sa pananaw ko po, I used to be with the Office of the Ombudsman, sa batas po [Republic Act] 6713, bawal [ito] (In my view, I used to be with the Office of the Ombudsman, under RA 6713, it is not allowed,” she added.

Transferred through general fund

MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said while the agency accepted the P200,000 "donation," it went toward the MMDA's general fund rather than a particular individual.

Lizada, however, questioned this, saying the Department of Budget and Management is the only government agency with the authority to deposit funds into the general fund.

Meanwhile, she said the general fund is set aside for an agency's operational needs, such as personal services, maintenance and other operating costs, and capital expenditures.

“Try to imagine kung maraming magva-violate ay magbibigay ho sila ng pera kasi nagpapasalamat dahil hinuli sila at ang gagawin ay idedeposit sa GF [general fund]. So try to imagine there will now be another source of money coming in na dapat hong hindi kasi po sila ay bayad na [ng taumbayan] (Try to imagine that if there are many violators, they will give money because they are grateful because they were caught and what will be done will be deposited in GF. So try to imagine that there will be another source of money that should not be because they are already being paid by the people),” Lizada said.

“Yung mga enforcers bayad na po sila ng tao. Bayad na po kami ng aming sweldo ng taumbayan (The enforcers are paid by the people. We have been paid by the people). And you do not have to reward us for doing our work,” she added.