Manila, July 11 -- Senator Panfilo Lacson has filed two separate measures seeking to remove the bank secrecy law and foreign currency deposits from government officials and employees.

In filing Senate Bill 38 or "An Act Further Strengthening the Secrecy of Bank Deposits Law, Amending for the Purpose RA 1405 Otherwise Known as the Secrecy of Bank Deposits Law as Amended," he pointed out that the 1987 Constitution itself stresses that "public office is a public trust," and public office thus must not be used for self-aggrandizement or for acquiring wealth by the person holding it.

Lacson said government officials and employees trying to enrich themselves in office will have nowhere to hide their ill-gotten wealth as they will be stripped ...