Miriam wants 'thick-skinned' Cabinet 'rhinos' shot on sight

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago likened to “thick-skinned rhinoceros” the Cabinet members and other executive officials who spent about P218 million in public funds and still unaccounted monetary contributions from private friends for their infomercials.

“They are all thick-skinned and should be shot on sight,” said Santiago, a sharpshooter.

At the start of her privilege speech, Santiago defined a rhinoceros as a large, powerful, herbivorous, thick-skinned “perissodactyl mammal with two horns.”

“Thus, a rhinoceros is a template for Cabinet members and other executive officials who use public funds, or gifts from so-called friends, to campaign for next year’s elections,” Santiago said.

In her speech, Santiago revealed that in 2009 alone, government officials spent public funds for their candidacies amounting to P100 million. In 2008, certain Cabinet officials and executive officials spent up to P118 million, totaling to P218 million from 2008 to the present.

“Gentlemen of the Cabinet, how do you explain the timing of your highly-paid TV infomercials? …Bakit ngayon lang palapit na ang halalan (Why only now when elections are nearing)?” Santiago said. “Timing is a dead giveaway.”

Santiago, head of the economic affairs committee, cited figures from the Commission on Audit (COA) showing that Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) chairman Augusto Syjuco spent P28.3 million for 2008 and P22.5 million for 2009; Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, P23.4 million (2008) and P23.4 million (2009); Vice President Noli de Castro P18.1 million (2008) and P18.1 million (2009); Philippine Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chairman Efraim Genuino, P14.1 million (2008) and P14.1 million (2009); Health Secretary Francisco Duque P13.2 million (2008) and P3.3 million (2009); MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando, P7.4 million (2008) and P6.4 million (2009); Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, P5.7 million (2008) and P5.7 million (2009); Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane P3.8 million (2008) and P3.8 million (2009); Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, P2.4 million (2008) and P2.4 million (2009); and Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno P 0.9 million (2008) and P.240 million (2009).

“These executive officials can expect to stay in office until the end of November, the deadline for filing certificates of candidacy, when they will be considered resigned. Thus, unless we in the Senate will warn them to stop using public funds, they are likely to intensify their infomercials, and it would be likely that they will incur more expenses, maybe another P100 million,” Santiago said.

She also mentioned the ads of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Finance Secretary Margarito Teves.

Santiago added that the “total greed and abuse” of officials might then reach a grand total of P218 million alone used for electioneering.

“One small step to the Senate, a giant leap to greed and abuse. Ganid at abusado ang mga ito!” said Santiago.

She also asked if it was necessary for Duque to do the advertisements when there was no contagious disease and added: “Or has he become the contagious disease?”

Santiago particularly cited Puno, whom Santiago accused of charging to DILG funds media greetings on certain occasions, including the President and his (Puno’s) own birthday greetings and the anniversary of a newspaper.

“He greeted himself! These cabinet (officials) should be shot. He even attacks me through his column. He thinks I’m running after him… Why should I? I am married to one of the handsome men in the country,” Santiago said.

She also criticized Syjuco for even dancing in his commercials, noting that the COA has declared as unnecessary the advertising expenses in the sum of P12.3 million on Feb. 27, 2008; P21.12 million on March 12, 2008 and P18.4 million on June 24, 2009.

In the three instances COA warned him, she said, noting that the ad with singer-actress Sarah Geronimo cost the taxpayers P8.3 million.

‘DILG did not spend a single centavo for infomercials’

Meanwhile, contrary to accusations that government money was wasted in infomercials, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said government did not spend a single centavo for the production and airing of the infomercials highlighting the accomplishments of the department.

DILG assistant secretary and spokesman Brian Raymund Yamsuan disclosed that it was the initiative of the private sector-led group Friends of Ronnie (FOR) to produce and air the series of infomercials showing the programs of the DILG, through the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“We would like to assure the public that no funds of the Department were used for the infomercials,” Yamsuan said. “FOR had publicly stated that its members had taken it upon themselves to support the advocacy of Secretary Puno in empowering local government units and developing a new breed of law enforcers and public safety officers in the DILG and we thank them for that, ”he said. With Cecille Suerte Felipe