| Among speculations about presidency officials using | | | | Legal eagles said that Secretary Puno cannot be held |
| public funds to execute early campaigning for the | | | | responsible for violations of the Anti-Graft and |
| May 2010 Elections, a barrister has called on public | | | | Corrupt Practices Act or Republic Act 3019, or for |
| officers who air infomercials to disclose their source | | | | disregarding the code of conduct and Ethical |
| of funds.barrister Ernesto Francisco Jr. Said that'It | | | | Standards for Public officers, which proscribes public |
| isn't really enough if it is their money. First, they | | | | officials from accepting gifts, as the infomercials can't |
| should tell where the funds came from. If these are | | | | be considered as gifts given by FOR to the DILG |
| donations from supporters or buddies, they should | | | | secretary. |
| disclose where these came from.' | | | | -oOo- |
| -oOo- | | | | A survey of jurisprudence shows that violations of |
| In the interest of transparency, those paying for the | | | | Sec. 7 ( d ) of the code of conduct regularly occur |
| infomercials of govt officers should actually identify | | | | where a public official solicits or accepts a gift which |
| themselves. | | | | is given in expectation of, or in return for, a favor |
| They should follow the lead of groups like'Friends of | | | | from recounted public official or worker. This is clearly |
| Ronnie' ( FOR ), an organisation comprising supporters | | | | not correct in relation to Secretary Puno and FOR. |
| of the inside and Local govt Secretary Ronnie Puno, | | | | The television advertisements could not be classified |
| who have come out-in the interest of | | | | as a'gift' given to Puno because the secretary did not |
| transparency-to say that they were those who | | | | benefit from the television advertisements.in reality, |
| produced the office of the Interior and Local regime | | | | the rank-and-file of the PNP are the ones benefitting |
| ( DILG ) infomercials and paid for their television | | | | from the infomercial because of the strong positive |
| placements. | | | | picture of cops and policewomen that are being |
| -oOo- | | | | projected in the advertisements. |
| FOR members announced they wanted to show the | | | | Even the public are benefitting from the adverts |
| programs of the DILG, thru the Philippine National | | | | because they are through the infomercials, being |
| Police ( PNP ), in establishing ladies and kids Protection | | | | informed of the PNP services that they now enjoy |
| Desks in each police station, and in hiring at least | | | | or can avail of. |
| three thousand new cops and policewomen every | | | | -oOo-as far as the Omnibus Election Code is |
| year. | | | | concerned did Secretary Puno violate any law? |
| During their August launching, FOR officers and | | | | No. He did not violate the Omnibus Election Code |
| members announced in a press statement that they | | | | because the essential elements are absent in his case |
| support Secretary Puno's advocacy in'empowering | | | | like : 1. ) someone engages in an election campaign or |
| local executive units and developing a new breed of | | | | partisan political activity ; two. ) the act is meant to |
| law enforcers and public safety officers in the DILG.' | | | | plug the election or defeat of a particular candidate |
| As pointed out in their press statement, FOR | | | | and ; three. ) the act is done outside of the campaign |
| members simply asked Secretary Puno to appear in | | | | period. |
| the series of infomercials as DILG secretary. | | | | -oOo- |
| -oOo- | | | | DILG's infomercials are not an'election campaign' |
| Neither FOR nor Puno is guilty of using regime funds | | | | or'partisan political activity'. They inform the public of |
| and of early campaigning thru the DILG's series of | | | | the department's programs and achievements. They |
| infomercials highlighting the department's | | | | do not promote the election or defeat of an |
| accomplishments, for the FOR members used their | | | | applicant because the contents of the television |
| own money to pay for the television advertisements. | | | | infomercials do not deal with the 2010 elections. |