Miriam gives businessman 3 days to explain 'gross misbehavior'

Tit for tat. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Friday said the businessman who filed an ethics complaint against her must explain why he shouldn't be cited for contempt for alleged "gross misbehavior." In a show-cause order dated July 15, Santiago gave Chung Hing Wong (also known as Joseph Wong) three days to explain in writing why he should not be cited for contempt by the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Commission on Appointments (CA). Santiago issued the show-cause order in her capacity as chairperson of the CA foreign affairs committee. The senator explained that Wong's "gross misbehavior" stemmed from the time when he opposed the nomination of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario during a CA hearing last May 31. Wong claimed Del Rosario was directly involved in an alleged transaction which resulted in him losing money. "You said you had no proof. In other words, you wanted the committee to act as your collection agent instead of seeking your proper legal remedy with the Justice Department where you claimed that your case is pending," she said in the show-cause order. After Wong failed to produce evidence during the hearing, Santiago kicked him out of the Senate premises and told him not to repeat his actions. On July 13, however, Wong filed an ethics complaint against Santiago before the Senate ethics committee. The ethics committee is chaired by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayeteno "You appeared during a TV newscast, announcing that you have filed a complaint against the undersigned with the Senate ethics committee. Thus, you have compounded your gross misbehavior by, in effect, resorting to trial by publicity," said Santiago. The incident with Wong was not the first time that Santiago flared up during a CA hearing. Santiago scolded those present during a CA hearing last year after a cellular phone rang while nominee Philippine Ambassador to China Francisco Bendicto was answering a question of the commission. — RSJ, GMA News