Amid reports alleging Land Transportation Office chief Virginia Torres tried her luck at a casino, Civil Service Commission chairman Francisco Duque III said public officials should know better than setting foot inside a gambling place.
In a report on "24 Oras" Friday, Duque said government officials like Torres are expected to adhere to a higher standard of public conduct due to their status as public servants.
"May moral ascendancy [ang mga government officials] dahil pinuno sila na tinitingala at kino-consider bilang mga halimbawa," he said.
Although the CSC cannot impose sanctions on the LTO chief because she is a presidential appointee, Duque said the law clearly bars government officials from going inside casinos or gaming clubs.
According to Memorandum Circular No. 8, issued by Malacañang on August 28, 2001, "All government personnel concerned are prohibited from entering, staying and/or playing at gambling casinos."
These include "government officials connected directly with the operation of the government or any of its agencies (save personnel employed by the casinos who may be allowed to stay in the premises) and members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including the Army, Navy, and Air Force."
"All heads of departments, bureaus and offices, government-owned or controlled corporations and local governments, including the PNP and AFP [are directed] to remind officials and employees under them regarding this prohibition and to impose the appropriate sanctions and penalties in case of violation thereof," the memorandum said.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) under Secretary Joseph Emilio "Jun" Abaya will be in charge of questioning Torres about her presence inside the casino since LTO is under the government agency.
