Manila, Oct. 13 -- Senator Erwin Tulfo, acting chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, is set to file on Monday afternoon a measure that would criminalize the "license for rent" scheme, which surfaced as a major modus operandi during Senate hearings on the flood control scam.

Under the proposed License Integrity Act, the lending, leasing, or fraudulent use of licenses will be punishable by imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than 12 years, and/or a fine ranging from PHP300,000 to PHP3 million.

The measure covers not only contractors' licenses under the Department of Public Works and Highways, but also those issued to customs brokers by the Bureau of Customs and environmental permits granted by the Department ...