Cabinet men with infomercials told to consider public opinion

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang urged yesterday the concerned Cabinet officials to consider the issues raised by various sectors against the so-called “infomercials” and respond accordingly to the public clamor.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the Cabinet officials should be sensitive to public opinion, particularly on the issue of infomercials, which has received a lot of attention because of the recent probe conducted by the Senate.

“We are asking the Cabinet members concerned to take into serious account the opinions of people like Senator Miriam Santiago and to that effect, a recent decision of the regional trial court that has issued a restraining order on DOH commercials,” Remonde said.

In a privilege speech, Santiago called the concerned Cabinet officials “thick-skinned rhinoceros” for having spent P218 million in public funds for their infomercials.

The Cabinet officials have spent P100 million so far this year for ads.

The timing of the infomercials was also questioned since the election period is already very near.

Santiago said that the Cabinet officials could be using public funds to help fulfill their political ambitions through the infomercials that bear their images.

The Manila City Regional Trial Court has issued a temporary restraining order against the infomercials of the Department of Health and Secretary Francisco Duque III in connection with the petition filed by a lawyer.

Health Secretary Duque has said that he would comply with the order of the court even as he defended the use of infomercials.

“Our policy is to abide by court decisions and to be sensitive to well-meaning opinions,” Remonde said.

Aside from Duque, the other Cabinet officials with infomercials are Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general Augusto Syjuco, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves and Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman.

Government-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. also has infomercials that feature its chairman Efraim Genuino.

Duque has stated that he would continue the advertisements once the TRO is lifted or the case has been decided in favor of the Cabinet officials.

Miriam seeks COA intervention

Senator Defensor-Santiago urged the Commission on Audit (COA) to advise Cabinet officials and government executives against spending for infomercials after it was learned that paid advertisements have cost the government over P215 million in taxpayers’ money.

Santiago said she sent a letter to COA chairman Reynaldo Villar, requesting him to disallow the expenses for infomercials, and instead order the Cabinet members to refund their respective departments the money spent for infomercials, which range from P28 million to P900,000 each.

She said that Cabinet members reported by COA to be using public funds violate the Election Code provision, Sec. 261 (o) which provides that, “Any person who uses under any guise whatsoever, directly or indirectly, public funds shall be guilty of an election offense.”

She also urged the Commission on Elections, Office of the Ombudsman and Justice Secretary to start the preliminary investigation and trial of all Cabinet members reported by COA to be using public funds for their infomercials on television, radio and print.

Santiago wrote Comelec chairman Jose Melo, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, and Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera about the urgency of her appeal.

She said that the three offices are authorized by law to prosecute election offenses, as well as violations of the Anti-Graft Act and the Code of Conduct for Public Officials.

“Yes, I already sent those letters and I have requested them to give me a response because, there are two offenses here, one is an electoral offense so the jurisdiction lies with the Comelec,” said Santiago, chair of the economic affairs committee.  – With Christina Mendez, Mike Frialde