THERE was a time in our national soul when conflict of interest, disclosures and divestments were the order of the day. No one was appointed until and unless vetted for potential conflicts of interest. It was then that Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) was more the norm than the exception. It started when the law was signed on Feb. 20, 1989. Thirty-four years later, we have individuals offering free information technology services to local governments and some appointed individuals focusing on data capture across national agencies.

Under that law, 'Conflict of interest' arises when a 'public official or employee is a member of a board, an officer, or a substantial stockholder of a private corporation or owner or has a substantial interest in a business, and the interest of such corporation or business, or his rights or duties therein, may be opposed to or affected by the faithful performance of official duty.'