Roque pushes for whistleblowers’ protection bill
UNITEAM senatorial candidate Harry Roque would push for whistleblowers’ protection, security, and benefits to curtail graft and corruption in government.
Roque previously authored House Bill (HB) No. 223, which seeks to encourage citizens “to stand up and report alleged violations of law, improper use of governmental office, gross waste of funds, or any other abuse or gross neglect of duty on the part of an agency, public officer or employee, and private entity.”
The former party-list representative would bring the “Whistleblowers’ Protection Bill” to the Senate if elected.
“By protecting citizens who disclose wrongdoing from retaliatory acts, we strengthen accountability and reduce corruption in the public and private sectors,” Roque stated.
Roque cited Article 2, Section 27 of the Constitution that says, “the State shall maintain honesty and integrity in public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption.”
Under HB 223, any person who violates provisions of the Act shall pay a fine of not less than P200,000 but not more than P500,000 and suffer imprisonment of not less than two years but not more than six years.
A “whistleblower” is defined as a person who publicly reveals a concealed misconduct or a commission or attempted commission of a crime by a person, employer, employee, or an agency, whether of a public or private entity.
