Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago urged President Estrada to take over PAL, which shut down yesterday.

Santiago said that the PAL closure has created a national emergency, and the public interest requires the government to temporarily take over or direct its operation.

“PAL is a public utility and business affected with the public interest.  Under the Constitution, the president’s emergency power is available, as long as it is exercised under reasonable terms,” she said.

Santiago said that under the Constitution, in the interest of national welfare, the government may even transfer PAL to public ownership upon payment of just compensation.

Santiago said that under P.D. No. 902-A, also known as the SEC law, the President should immediately appoint a management committee to undertake the management of corporations in appropriate cases when there is imminent danger of dissipation or paralization of business operations of such corporation, which may be prejudicial to the interest of the general public.

“It is a calamity of disastrous proportion to close down the national flag carrier.  It impacts not only trade and industry, but also delivery of basic social services.  PAL should be saved at all costs,” she said.

Santiago said it is anomalous for PAL to shut down as the result of a survey which involves only 2,562 employees, out of a total of 6,738 PAL employees.

“It is beginning to look like the two labor unions are being manipulated by a cabal of labor leaders who are no longer speaking for the majority.  This is enough ground to call for a second survey or referendum,” she said.

Santiago said that any employee survey to be valid should be the result of the majority vote out of the participating employees who should be the majority of the total members.

Santiago said Senate President Marcelo Fernan, a former chief justice, Sen. Teofisto Guingona, a former justice secretary, and Solicitor General Ricardo Galvez all committed “unforgivable error” in legal research.

She said the error was made when they filed their separate Comments on her petition for quo warranto, questioning Guingona’s right to hold the post of Minority Leader.

Santiago said the error of Fernan and Guingona occurred when they each cited a legal encyclopedia called Corpus Juris Secundum.

“In pleadings before the Supreme Court, a legal encyclopedia should never be quoted or cited as an authority.  A legal encyclopedia is only a finding tool,” she said.

Santiago said pleadings before the appellate courts should cite only primary sources of law, meaning the Constitution, statutes passed by Congress, and earlier cases decided by the Supreme Court.

Santiago also criticized the Solicitor General for citing American cases.

“Pleadings should cite only cases with mandatory authority, such as past decisions of the Philippine Supreme Court.  American cases only have persuasive authority, and do not have to be followed in our country,” she said.

Santiago assailed the legal research of the three men, after they filed their separate Comments on her petition.  She accused them of what she called “erroneous juriography,” meaning legal research and writing in her Reply filed yesterday with the SC.

Santiago said that her three adversaries also erred when they cited the 1947 case of Avelino v. Cuenco.

“The Avelino case is no longer ruling case law, because it has been superseded by the 1993 case of Guingona v. Gonzales.  The later case supersedes the earlier case,” she said.

Santiago said her three opponents “overlooked” a new proven in the Constitution expanding the judicial power of the Supreme Court.

Santiago issued the statement when she filed her Reply with the Supreme Court yesterday (Sept. 23) in the pending case over the post of Minority Leader.

Santiago and Sen. Francisco Tatad claim that they constitute the true minority party in the Senate, and therefore Tatad should be the Minority Leader.

The two refused to accept committee chairmanships, and argued that while Guingona is Minority Leader, Lakas senators cannot accept committee chairmanships.

In order to get committee chairmanships, two senators -- Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Ramon Revilla -- have defected from Lakas and joined the Lamp.

“To accommodate one person’s desire to be Minority Leader, the 5 remaining Lakas senators have to forego committee chairmanships.  Naturally the 5 senators are frustrated, dissatisfied, and restless,” Santiago said.

She said Lakas senators are paying too high a price just to keep Guingona in his present contested post of Minority Leader.

Santiago charged Guingona and Senate Pres. Marcelo Fernan with “Grave abuse of discretion” for seeking to compel the minority to accept a Minority Leader who does not belong to their party.

Santiago said the government will face more problems if it decides to take over PAL which has not been operating profitably.

She explained that several airlines in Asia are also suffering from heavy losses, low passenger loads and choking debts due to the economic crisis beleaguering the region.

“Hindi iyan praktical sa ngayong panahon dahilan sa mayroon tayong economic recession sa Pilipinas at sa buong Asya,” Santiago said in a radio interview.  “At kulang nga ang pera sa ating national budget sa 1999.  Maganda sana ang solusyon, pero dahil kulang ang pera natin sa national treasury, hindi iyan uubra.”

Instead of a government takeover, Santiago urged President Joseph Estrada to hold a last-minute summit with PAL majority owner Lucio Tan and the airline’s union leaders and compromise for the sake of national interest.

“President Estrada should convince Mr. Tan to change his mind,” she said.  “At the same time, the labor unions must scale down their demands.”

“The violent incident is an affront to our freedom of speech and freedom of the press,” Santiago said.  “No less than the Constitution has guaranteed their protection.”

According to Santiago, the act of destroying a press office in order to stifle it from reporting the truth is barbaric.

“It only proves that Western Visayas Daily Informer is living up to its promise as society’s watchdog that it has threatened the existence of corrupt people,” she stressed.

Santiago said local media agencies should not be unfazed by the dastardly acts and continue their mission of bringing the news to the people without fear and bias.

Initial reports said unidentified men threw a hand grenade at the printing office of Daily Informer Sunday night, destroying the building’s gate, window glasses, steel grills and printing machines.

Sources are pointing to men of Iloilo City Rep. Raul Gonzalez as the suspects behind the bombing.

Daily Informer has recently exposed Gonzalez’ alleged misuse of pork barrel funds, interference on Iloilo Airport’s operations, and the Supreme Court’s decision ten years ago to suspend Gonzalez, a former Tanodbayan, from the legal profession. 

Under the Civil Code, Santiago explained common carriers are bound to carry the passengers safely as far as human care and foresight can provide with due regard for all the circumstances.

“In this particular case, the captain is presumed to be negligent because under the law, the diligence required is extraordinary,” Santiago said.  “The burden of proof is on the part of the common carrier to overcome the presumption.”

Santiago voiced concern over testimonies by survivors that the crew abandoned the ship without notifying the passengers.

Under the Code of Commerce, Santiago said the ship captain is legally bound to ensure the safety of passengers.

“The law states clearly that the captain should remain on board in case the vessel is in danger until all hope to save it is lost,” Santiago pointed.  “If the captain abandoned the ship and left the passengers, that was tantamount to neglect of duty.”

Santiago said the captain should have exhausted all measures to save the passengers before deserting the ship.

“Authorities should never have allowed the ship to sail in the first place,”  she stressed.  “Weather officials reported two typhoons last week, so why didn’t the officials and the ship owner take the necessary precautions?”

At present, Santiago said there is no law that compels ship owners to report marine accidents unless there is an investigation or reports by media.

“Ang mga may-ari ay hindi gumagawa ng  formal report at pinababayaan na i-report lang ng media,” Santiago said in a radio interview.  “Ang kagandahan ng formal report ay uuliratin at kailangan na ilagay sa papel kung ano ang kondisyon ng barko bago ito umalis, kung  ano ang ginawa ng crew sa oras ng sakuna at iba pang importanteng impormasyon.”

Santiago was referring to the recent sea disaster in which survivors alleged that the ship captain and his crew abandoned them without any warning.

Under the Code of Commerce, Santiago said the captain is obliged to remain on board in case the vessel is in danger until all hope to save it is lost.

“The captain always goes down with his ship.  Even in the movie Titanic, the captain stayed put at the steering wheel,” she said.

Santiago’s Senate Bill No. 698 or the “Marine Casualties Reporting Act” would require ship owners to report to the Department of Transportation and Communication, particularly the Maritime Industry Authority, and the Philippine Coast Guard, any death of an individual, serious injury to a person, loss of property, or damage affecting the efficiency of the ship.

She noted that marine accidents are considered ordinary occurrence in the country despite the damaging effects such as loss of lives and properties.

“It is ironic that there is no mandatory reporting of marine casualties to determine the loss of lives and properties resulting from such accidents which would be the basis of the victims on their claim for injury and damages,” she said.

Missionary routes are destinations that are non-profitable because of low passenger load.

Santiago said it is high time for the new entrants to the liberalized air transport industry to serve these unprofitable routes for public interest.

“The Philippines is an archipelago.  We are not only dealing with passengers, but with trade and commerce as well,” Santiago said.  “Government has no recourse but to assign each airline company a number of these  missionary routes.”

PAL is the only airline company required to ply missionary routes.

The new airline companies were initially spared from this social responsibility owing to the huge capital expenditures involved.

However, some of these companies have already reported positive net income from their operations.

Santiago said these airline companies will be the biggest winners when PAL closes down next week.

With this development, Santiago urged them to rise to the challenge and provide efficient service to the public.  She voiced concern over reports that local airlines are scrimping on safety by cutting costs on maintenance.

She has filed a resolution calling for a Senate investigation on the alleged cost-cutting practice of local airlines to survive the currency crisis.
 “The safety of the riding public must never be compromised notwithstanding the economic crisis beleaguering the country,” she stressed.

“We need an ombudsman to guard the ombudsman.  This is the problem with the culture of corruption,” Santiago said in a radio interview.  “President Estrada should appoint someone whose character is above suspicion to restore the public’s faith in the ombudsman.”

Santiago was reacting to the ongoing squabble at the anti-graft body that may seriously hamper the present administration’s campaign against graft and corruption.

“The more controversies hounding the Office of the Ombudsman, the less credibility it will have,” she said.

Santiago issued the call after donating September 17, 500 kits and a microscope to the city and provincial hospitals in her home province of Iloilo.

The kit consists of reagent solution for platelet determination, together with capillary pipettes, imported from the United States.

The hospital directors told Santiago that the dengue test kits are out of stock among local government hospitals.

Even in Metro Manila, Santiago said she had to wait for one week before she could buy the test kits.

“I hope the senators and representatives would at least donate dengue test kits and microscopes to their provincial constituencies.  The need is acute,” she said.

An Iloilo City radio station sought Santiago’s help during a telephone interview, after 79 Ilongos reportedly died of dengue fever.

Doctors say early diagnosis of dengue is vital because it could spell the difference between life and death.

Santiago explained that the Ombudsman serves as the protector of the people and enjoys vast powers like probing the misconduct of public officials. She stressed that an ombudsman must have a clean track record to enjoy full public trust.

“Once an ombudsman is tainted with corruption charges, he automatically loses public confidence on whether he can execute his duties and responsibilities without bias,” she stressed.

She said that if necessary, the Congress should amend R.A. No. 4770 or the “Ombudsman Act of 1989.”

Santiago said the accusations against Disierto are disturbing and if left unproven, they may tarnish the image of the anti-graft agency.

“It is ironic that the institution that is supposed to investigate the malpractices of public officials is now rocked by various allegations of graft and corruption,” she said.

Santiago said the suspension order for Deputy Ombudsman Francisco Villa is ill-timed.  She said that Disierto should have instead required Villa to prove his accusations.

“If reports are true that Disierto suspended Villa for an old administrative case, then it does not augur well for the Ombudsman,”  she said.  “The case seems to be motivated by vengeance rather than a search for
truth.”

In a resolution filed yesterday, Santiago cited a constitutional provision that states “the Ombudsman may be removed from office, on impeachment for and conviction of  culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other crimes or betrayal of public trust.”

Santiago also pointed to Republic Act  No. 6713 or the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees” which states that public officials should observe professionalism, justness and sincerity in discharging official duties.

Santiago said the latest kidnapping incident may prompt foreign nations to tag the country as a ‘high risk’ destination for their nationals and reinforce the notion that the Philippines is still Asia’s kidnapping capital.

She said the present administration unfortunately inherited the crime problem from the Ramos administration which ignored the alarming peace and order situation.

“For the past six years, various business organizations have repeatedly issued statements of concern on the rising criminality problem in our country,” Santiago said.  “But the Ramos administration chose to play deaf and evade the problem by merely pointing to unreliable statistics that painted a rosier but unreal picture.”

Santiago urged the Philippine National Police and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force to beef up their anti-crime measures to re-assure the foreign investors that there will be no let-up in the government’s anti-crime drive.

“No less than President Estrada has vowed to solve the crime problem in the first six months of his term.  He has demonstrated political will in the past to combat crime so foreigners should be optimistic,” she said.

Santiago also said the PNP leadership must also rid its law enforcement ranks of rogues if it wants to succeed, as she noted the alarming involvement of policemen and soldiers in crime.

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago exposes the 15 common graft and corrupt practices and provides solutions to these problems in her book How to Fight Graft that is now available on-line and in leading bookstores.

Santiago, former immigration commissioner, is a renowned “graftbuster” who earned the Magsaysay Award for government service in 1988 for her ‘bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a graft-ridden government agency.’

People can now visit Santiago’s official website (www.philonline.com/~miriam)  which contains the complete list of her books.  They can place simply place their orders through e-mail.

Santiago’s other books that are also available include:

• A Frabjous Day and Other Stories - A collection of stories dwelling on love, religious ecstasy, death, loneliness of childhood and pain of maturity written by Miriam when she was very young.
• Where Angels Fear to Tread - Miriam ponders on politics and religion while enrolled as a graduate student at the Maryhill School of Theology.  Some of the essays originally appeared in her opinion column, Gadfly, and are now culled in this refreshing and rejuvenating book.
• The Miriam Dictionary -  Spice up your vocabulary with the colorful language of Miriam that delighted the country. Fungus-faced, frontal lobotomy, verbal diarrhea, mental AIDS, intellectual amoeba---these are some of Miriam’s  most famous and  unforgettable lines.
• Inventing Myself - The real Miriam revealed in this autobiography written when she was a United Nations officer in Geneva, Switzerland, light years away from the fame and controversy that now surrounds her.
• Cutting Edge - The book chronicles the phenomenal rise of Miriam to national prominence through her courageous crusade for reforms and responsible public service.  Media love to call it “Miriam magic.” Unsinkable Miriam’s travails in the 1992 campaign across the country is captured in this powerful and inspiring autobiography.
  
• How to Fight Election Fraud -  A concise, insightful look at the various electoral fraud schemes being used to rig election results and what people can do to fight cheating during elections.

Santiago emphasized there is a need to define obscenity in Philippine context and not merely refer to the United States’ Miller test because of the cultural differences between both countries.

“It is commendable that the Philippine National Police is waging an anti-pornography drive,” she said.  “But snopake solutions like arresting newspaper vendors and burning sleazy publications for photo opportunities
will never solve the problem.”

Santiago said obscenity is not a protected speech, but what is obscene is defined by existing laws and jurisprudence.

“While government recognizes the importance and need to regulate, if not prohibit, the proliferation of smut publications, it must plug the loopholes in the existing laws if it wants to really succeed,” she said.

The Miller test, laid down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973, applies to works  both in words and in pictures and must consider the work as a “whole.”

The basic guidelines of obscenity state that the work should appeal to the prurient interest, it must depict offensively sexual conduct and it lacks serious literacy, artistic, political or scientific value.

Santiago said pornography is widely believed to encourage sexual violence against women and conditions the men and women into accepting as appropriate certain gender roles and relationships.

In a resolution filed yesterday, Santiago stressed the need to formulate and implement a stronger institutional measure on a nationwide basis to control the proliferation of smut publications.

Santiago noted that kidnappers remain undaunted by the government's vow to wipe out criminal syndicates and continue their lucrative trade of abducting rich Chinese Filipino businessmen and foreigners.

"While foreign investors are assured that government is finally sincere in fighting crime up front and not by statistics, the citizens must also throw their support behind government's anti-crime measures," she said.

Santiago said foreign investors must take their cue from the present administration's promise to squash the problem of criminality within six months.  She noted that even the local business communities seem to have
confidence on the people leading the war against criminals.

But Santiago said the PNP leadership must also rid its law enforcement ranks of rogues if it wants to succeed, as she noted the alarming involvement of policemen and soldiers in crime.

Santiago lamented that the present administration unfortunately inherited the gargantuan problem of kidnapping left unsolved, ignored and unabated by the Ramos administration.

"The previous administration chose to play deaf and evade the crime problem.  They repeatedly refused to admit the existence of the problem and merely pointed to statistics as the barometer of the country's peace and
order situation," she explained.

She said that the crime problem is one of the many rotten contributions of the Ramos administration apart from the huge budget deficit and dismal economic growth posted this year.

As an interim measure, Santiago explained that foreign exchange controls allow policy makers to determine the quantity and quality of foreign exchange outflows and inflows.

“Foreign exchange controls, therefore, are effective in monitoring how dollars are spent and how they are earned,” Santiago said.  “It creates a sense of stability and predictability, particularly among those who engage
in forex transactions.”

Santiago emphasized that complete or full foreign exchange controls may be uncalled for.  She stressed that currency controls must be imposed on the following activities:

• trade-related import and export transactions
• payment of foreign debts
• short-term foreign investments in Philippine capital assets

Santiago attributed the negative connotation of forex controls in the country to the Marcos era when it was used to promote the vested interests of a few.

“Currency controls are also widely believed to have strengthened the Marcos cronies’ grip of the economy,” Santiago said.  “Currency controls were in place for a very long time that it became arbitrary and unmanageable, while the monitoring mechanism was deeply influenced by the people in power.”

Santiago added that interventions and controls are not always bad unless they are institutionalized and passed off as normal and necessary.

“As a long-run hedge against foreign exchange speculation, however, foreign exchange controls may not be the solution.  The long-run solution to a currency or financial crisis can be found in the reform of the financial
system itself,” she said.

Santiago was reacting to the expose on the "mafia-like" group which has been allegedly operating in the Department of Health since the Aquino adminstration.

Santiago cited Section 9 (g) of the law that states "entering on behalf of the Government, into any contract or transaction manifestly and grossly disadvantageous... whether or not the public officer profited or will profit" constitutes a corrupt practice.

If proven guilty, Santiago said those involved face imprisonment for not less than a year and not more than 10 years.  They will also be permanently disqualified from public office.

A day before President Joseph Estrada names the new health chief, Santiago asked the President include in his criteria for selecting a new health secretary, someone who has a track record in fighting graft and corruption.

"Every corrupt agency has a den of thieves operating by means of criminal syndicates," Santiago said.  "He must be ready to squash them like bugs.  He must have the courage, fortitude and stamina to fight graft and corruption."

Santiago said a revamp of key officers in the health department will not be sufficient in weeding out criminal syndicates within the bureaucracy.

Santiago advised the next health secretary to rotate DOH employees immediately and periodically so that they lose their capacity to promise certain results for their illicit clients and eventually, lose their administrative capacity to sustain the syndicate.

"Those who have identified are new appointees, but the modus operandi has been in existence for the past decade," Santiago said.  "More heads should roll.  The next health secretary must be able to identify these undesirable elements in his department if he wants to succeed."

"Every corrupt agency has a den of thieves operating by means of criminal syndicates," Santiago said.  "He must be ready to squash them like bugs."

Santiago, who is a renowned graftbuster,  said the next health secretary should find out the identities of employees forming a network with a standard operating procedure for committing crime that results in illicit income for themselves.

"The solution to the problem of syndicates is to remove these employees from strategic positions," Santiago proposed.  "Criminal syndicates proliferate because the members occupy strategic positions which enable them
to influence or determine the outcome of the workflow."

Santiago also called for an immediate rotation of employees in the health department so that employees lose their capacity to promise certain results for their illicit clients and eventually, lose their administrative capacity
to sustain the syndicate.

"Under existing civil service regulations, it is difficult to uproot an employee and transplant him to another section," she pointed.  "This being so, a system of rotation should be adopted.  This system should be periodic,
but unpredictable."

Santiago initiated the same measures that effectively wiped out the criminal syndicates operating then at the immigration bureau.  She was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service in 1988 for her
bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a graft-ridden agency.

Santiago said she will call for a Senate investigation on the alleged syndicate at the Department of Health that had cornered procurement projects of medicine.

Santiago has filed 213 bills and resolutions or about 14 percent of the total 1,517 bills and resolutions filed by all the senators.

Santiago's legislative agenda continue to deal strongly with five areas namely:  youth and family, women's rights and social welfare, constitutional rights, graft and corruption, penal code and electoral reforms.

Santiago has proposed to prohibit retail sales of cigarettes to people under 18 years old and impose certain restrictions on outdoor and indoor cigarette advertisements.

She has also proposed to mandate manufacturers of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages to print additional government health warnings in order to caution buyers on the ill effects of excessive smoking and drinking.

"Recent studies have revealed that an average Filipino starts smoking as early as 14 years old due to the influence of cigarette advertisements," she explained.  "As to alcoholic beverages, even minors are found to be
alcoholic dependents even if they are supposedly prohibited from purchasing and drinking alcoholic beverages."

Santiago also wants manufacturers of  food products to print the cholesterol and fat content of their goods on the labels so consumers may know how much fat and cholesterol they are getting per consumption.

"We should adopt a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol," she said.

Santiago's bills on women focused on working conditions such as teenage pregnancy reduction, gender discrimination and occupational hazards.  She is batting for the establishment of a Women in Enterprise Development Program that will provide women with financial, educational and information assistance.

She has also proposed the grant of 'family leave' for working parents who need to attend to the needs of their family members who are sick.

I consider it extremely unfortunate because it violates the spirit of the Constitution which provides for the development of a free and open party system.  In other words, our Constitution wants all movements in our
political system to flow towards the development of a strong party system.

When politicians are free to hop from one party to another, they violate the spirit of the Constitution because they are contributing to the weakening of the party system instead of strengthening it.

For this reason, there would be no ideological distinctions between parties.  They would simply become electoral machineries so a candidate can get elected since apparently, there is no sense of loyalty to political
ideology.

Santiago scored the malpractice of some bus companies that immediately field apprentices as drivers to ply their daily routes; thereby, exposing passengers to certain risks and danger.

“Passenger safety should never be compromised. Operators of public utility vehicles must scrutinize their drivers before deploying them,” Santiago stressed.

She urged operators of PUVs to adopt rigorous driving proficiency tests and even psychological examination before allowing their drivers to go on field.

“A bus carries more than 60 passenger during rush hours.  The lives of the commuting public is at stake, so every PUV operator must only hire qualified and skilled drivers,” Santiago said.

Santiago was reacting to a recent accident in which a courier of a media organization (ABC 5 news), Benjamin Sotio, was killed on the spot after a Pascual Liner bus hit the motorcycle he was riding.

The bus driver, a certain Renato Espiritu, reportedly admitted that he is not a proficient bus driver and that he still feels nervous and confused whenever he drives.

Apparently, the incident was not an isolated case.  The same bus company was also involved in another accident last August 10 that claimed the lives of a father and his son along Yakal corner Mayupis Street, Makati City.

Santiago filed a resolution yesterday (Sept. 2) directing an inquiry on the alleged failure to adequately implement and monitor the safety requirements for operating public utility vehicles.  She cited the Constitution which
guarantees the protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare of the people.

“Failure to stop human smuggling may compromise national security and interest,” warned Santiago.  “Terrorists and other undesired aliens might take advantage of the lax immigration controls and slip into the country.”

At the same time, Santiago called for a Senate investigation into the anomalies of port and immigration officials for the proliferation of human smuggling syndicates at airports and harbors across the country.

Santiago was immigration commissioner during the Aquino administration. She initiated a program to legalize the stay of aliens in the country after paying some fees, but the program, which was endorsed by former President
Corazon Aquino, was knocked by Congress.

“The increasing number of human smuggling syndicates in the country is an indication of corruption in the immigration bureau,” she stressed.

Santiago said the case stemmed from the alleged grant of a P250,000 cash advance from the countrywide development fund of Rep. Gonzalez on February 2, 1996.

Gonzalez failed to liquidate pork barrel funds spent for a seminar in Baguio City for barangay captains and a side trip to his beach resort in Zambales.

“What a sinful waste of taxpayers’ money,” she said.  “It is lamentable for a congressman to have distorted priorities for his own constituents.”

Santiago, who also hails from Iloilo, devoted more than P50  million from her CDF in the past two years for infrastructure projects beneficial to the Ilonggos.  The projects included school buildings, roads, street lighting,
bridges, fire stations, day care centers, water projects, among others.

“From my experience with the CDF, Iloilo needs so much.  If Gonzalez had only done his job, the Ilonggos would now be enjoying better services,” she rued.

In a resolution filed yesterday, Santiago cited the Constitution which provides:  “Discretionary funds appropriated for particular officials shall be disbursed only for public purposes to be supported by appropriate vouchers and subject to such guidelines as may be prescribed by law.”

Gonzalez is also facing two other graft charges filed against him by the Ombudsman in the Visayas.

Santiago voiced concern over claims by a group of lahar victims disputing reports by the Technology and Livelihood Research Center  that it had spent more than P400 million for livelihood projects.

“The people behind the ghost projects must be punished if they are found guilty of squandering public funds,”  she said.  “It is high time that the needs of lahar victims be addressed and prioritized.”

The group Ugnayan-Pampanga asserted that displaced residents do not know of any existing cattle project in the region contrary to claims by the TLRC.

A report from the TLRC and Mt. Pinatubo commission showed that TLRC had used its livelihood funds for the purchase of nine units Nissan Pathfinder, one Toyota Corolla and five units Toyota Tamaraw Fx.  It also included
purchases of furniture, computer equipment, desks and Intel pentium personal computers.

“The decision to purchase luxurious motor vehicles in lieu of instituting livelihood projects for lahar victims is questionable,” she said.

In a resolution filed yesterday, Santiago cited the Constitution which provides:  “Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full disclosure of all transactions
involving public interest.”

“The Japanese businessmen’s complaints against Morato are serious and merit an investigation,” Santiago stressed.  “This will send the correct signal to foreign investors that they are protected in our country,  even if they were wronged by businessmen or government officials.”

Santiago aired her support for Malacaņang’s directive to justice officials to investigate Morato and four other top executives involved in the P650 million Delta Sunrise hotel project in Makati after a Japanese group of
businessmen complained that its investments in the project had been squandered.

“The Japanese are the top investors in our ecozones,” she pointed.  “About 59.1 percent of the ecozone projects belong to Japanese businessmen.”

On the other hand, data provided by the Board of Investments show that Japan was the leading foreign investor in July with total investments amounting to P32.35 billion.

The Japanese businessmen, led by Yusuke Fukuzumi, had written to the Presidential Management Staff for assistance.   They believe that Morato had allegedly diverted their money to other projects.   The DOJ is set to
re-investigate Morato.