Ringing cell phone irks Miriam during CA hearing

It was Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago's first time to preside over a Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing since taking a leave of absence. However, her temper flared after hearing a phone ringing inside a Senate hall. Santiago scolded those present during Wednesday's CA hearing at the Padilla Room in the Senate after a cellular phone rang while nominee Philippine Ambassador to China Francisco Bendicto was answering a question of the commission. "Sheer courtesy dictates that when you are in a hall and important and respected people are speaking, you should not interrupt their line of thought," the senator said in raised voice. "What the heck is so important (with your phone)? Is it going to change the configuration of the physical, astrophysical universe," she added. Santiago failed to point out the source of the ringing but still threatened the person responsible for it. "This is the last warning, I will cite you for contempt.. and I'll send you to jail today kapag ginawa mo pa yan (if you do it again)," she said. She likewise chided the public because of the incident. "You're always criticizing your public officials but you yourselves don't know how to behave so that your public officials will respond accordingly," she said. As of posting time, the CA has recommended the confirmation of: