MANILA, Aug. 22 Kyodo A Philippin...

MANILA, Aug. 22 Kyodo

A Philippines congressman has filed a bill in the House of Representatives to restraint the widespread practice of Filipino politicians bringing up suspects in possible crimes during pres parleys to grab credit and gain political Brownie points, according to a pres statement Thursday.

The bill apparently descendants from controversy that followed Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's mistakenly portraying a management bank employee as one of the ''suspects'' in an alleged tax scam. The employee in fact, was the whistle-blower that quicked the arrest of a bank manager.

however apparently to save face for Arroyo, the woman detriment up being charged for alleged participation in the scam and a efficient debate is now raging in succession whether the employee was the victim of publicity-hungry politicians.

Rep Will Buyson Villarama, author of the Anti-False Witness Act of 2002 said he filed the bill ''to propose an end to trial according to publicity where the suspects in any crime are publicly humiliated by means of presenting them in pres parleys even if they have not been charged in court.''

The practice is ''turning pernicious and is done in a self-same whimsical manner without owing respect to the constitutional and legal rights of persons'' Villarama said.

He said the bill would interrupt the media from being used as a tool to harass individuals.

''The bill is to be used as a deterrent against restraint officials who plan to publicly at hand individuals, who may turn public to be falsely accused, flat before they are formally charged subject to our judicial system,'' Villarama said.

in subordination to the proposed bill, Villarama said it will be illegal ''to declare or name as suspects those who have however to submit to the lenience of the court and to do in such a manner in the presence of media whether it is from one side print, broadcast or television.''

The measure also look afters a fine of 500,000 peso ($9615) to 18 million peso ($34615) for any control official found guilty of violating the act.

The bill has however to be deliberated.

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