THE Senate Blue Ribbon committee will propose amendments to at least four national laws as a result of its investigation into the P728-million fertilizer fund controversy, according to committee chairman Richard Gordon

Gordon said the committee would propose amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Law, the Bank Deposit Secrecy Law, the Government Procurement Reform Law, and the Omnibus Election Code.

?We are introducing amendments to these laws so that individuals would no longer take undue advantage of the present weaknesses of the country?s legal system. These will have to be recommended and I assure [the public] we will file completed bills,? Gordon said in a statement.

He said the amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering Law would extend the period of freeze orders issued by the Anti-Money Laundering Council from six months to two years now.

Gordon said the extension would prevent any abuse of discretion by the council, and would stop something like what happened to the bank accounts of former Agriculture Under-secretary Jocelyn Bolante, which were unfrozen after the prescribed six-month limit was reached.

The council could have prevented Bolante from withdrawing the accounts by filing a civil forfeiture case, but it failed to do so.

Gordon also proposed that public officials be compelled to allow the examination of their local bank accounts, specially those accounts that have been frozen by the Anti-Money Laundering Council or are owned by officials facing corruption charges.

Gordon also wants to amend the Omnibus Election Code so that funds may not be released 45 days before a regular election and 30 days before a special election.

Under the proposed amendment, Gordon said, the prohibition should extend to all farm implements, farm inputs and post-harvest facilities under the Department of Agriculture and funds under the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act.

He also wants to prohibit the release of funds for all livelihood projects and all financial assistance for the local government units or non-government organizations, with the exception of aid to calamity areas.

Gordon also wants to revise the provisions of the Government Procurement Reform Act to extend its coverage to private institutions, non-government organizations, people?s organizations, and foundations receiving government money.