9 govt execs to skip Senate probe on ‘infomercials’

Only three of the 12 Cabinet and local government officials will attend Friday’s Senate hearing on alleged premature campaigning through infomercials. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, chairman of the economic affairs committee, on Thursday said she had prepared “nice words" to those who would be absent during the hearing. “I will have some nice words for them on Friday. Some Cabinet members said they have prior commitments, so we have to evaluate whether their prior commitments have suddenly materialized out of thin air," she said. She said she would not accept speaking engagements as an excuse. Those who had confirmed their attendance to the hearing as of Thursday night were Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando. The others invited to the hearing are Vice-President Noli de Castro, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Public Works and Highway Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) Chair Ephraim Genuino, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Chair (Tesda) Augusto Syjuco and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. “I know that Secretary Teodoro will have to sign a MOA (memorandum of agreement), so that is necessary. Secretary Puno has speaking engagement. I know that you can cancel speeches as long as you do it in advance so you won’t hurt people’s feelings. So speeches are out," Santiago said. Also expected to be present are resident auditors and finance officers of the departments and agencies. Santiago called the hearing to hear the explanation of the said officials with regards to their infomercials, which she said could be considered as premature campaigning. She said she would also ask the officials regarding the source of their funds for such commercials. Santiago said Cabinet officials who have plans to run for elective office in the 2010 elections should resign as early as now. “Hanggang sa maaari kung tatakbo sila pagkasenador bago sila magfile ng certificate of candidacy, mag-resign na sila as Cabinet members para walang duda na ginagamit nila ang pondo ng gobyerno," Santiago said. (They should resign as early as now even before they file their COC so that they will not be accused of using government funds to advance their political ambition.) - GMANews.TV