Press Release
October 23, 2008

Transcript of interview with Senator Miriam Santiago

On Dela Paz's absence in the Senate hearing on the Russia incident

As in law, silence means consent. Since absent si Dela Paz, he waived his right to give his side. Ang papaniwalaan lang ngayon ng committee ay ang mga pagbibintang laban sa kanya dahil hindi man lang niya sinagot... Failure to appear does not excuse him from any liability. In fact in incurs criminal liability. Kaya he was cited in contempt of the committee today and I have already signed a warrant for his arrest. He will be able to purge himself of the contempt charge, meaning to say that he will be released, if he is willing to testify. If he is willing to testify, then we will have to hold another hearing.

Mali ang taktika ng abugado na pinayuhan niya na wag munang magpakita dahil may motion sila to dismiss the complaint against him and to quash the subpoena. Kung merong motion na ganoon, hintayin mo munang magdesisyon ang kumite dahil hindi naman dahil nag-file ka ay mapapagbigyan ka na. Kaya kanina, we dismissed it for being unmeritorious, and therefore he should be there. Since he is absent at inaamin naman niya na may alam siya tungkol dito at nakatanggap ng subpoena, then he is already guilty of contempt.

Mrs. Dela Paz was not included in the arrest order

Wag na lang dahil baka maapektuhan pa ang pamilya niya dahil madre de pamilya siya. Kung ang tatay, wala tayong magagawa pa dahil ito ang sinasabi ng batas. Kung ang nanay, pinabayaan ko na lang, although in theory we can actually also order her arrest.

On Dela Paz's lawyer to file his motion to the Supreme Court

I-accept nila. In fact, that was my advice to Dela Paz's lawyer but he cannot argue here because that is part of the Senate rules of procedure governing inquiries in aid of legislation. Counsel can only advise his or her client, if the client is testifying, on legal aspects or legal rights. Then we can call a recess maybe for two or five minutes and he can advise, but he cannot talk directly to the committee, much less argue with us.

Maliwanag ito: hindi magagawa ni Dela Paz mag-isa dahil retiring na nga siya. Ang sinasabi ng Director General ay sinabihan lang daw siya, na ikinagalit ni Sen. Roxas kanina. Maliwanag na kasabwat itong si Versoza dahil nakita ninyo na wala siyang piho na sinasagot kundi lagi niyang sinasabi na napirmahan na raw, na sinabihan siya na pumirma na police superintendent. Malaking halaga ang P 7 M; maski bago ka lang sa opisina hindi ka ba magsasabi na 'teka muna, dalhin mo muna ang mga papeles at mga batas.' Wala man lamang siyang action, sinabihan lamang daw siya. Para siyang autistic na wala siyang reaksyon; sinabihan ka lang ganun, sige lang.

Tapos, tinatanong siya na bakit napayagan na malabag ang mga batas. Ang sabi ng batas ay walang official travel kung hindi gastos ng nagkumbida. Pwede ka lamang mag-travel kung walang gastos ang gobyerno. Meron ding executive order si President Arroyo noon pa, na hanggang ngayon ay hindi naaamyenda. Kaya hindi ba dapat magpaliwanag sila because the plain fact is under existing law, no foreign travel is allowed if it is in the expense of the government.

On Sec. Puno's liability

He will have to face prosecution for violation of the law, whatever the Ombudsman or the secretary of justice finds sufficient. It could be malversation; he would then be a principal there. Or it could be illegal disposal of public funds. Or the president the president can simply remove him as an administrative punishment in addition to the criminal punishment imposed on him.

Sa mga nakikita namin ngayon, the mere fact na inaamin nila na wala nang pagbabago sa batas na nagbabawal ng official travel kung gastos ng gobyerno is already an admission of an illegal act. They have to be held responsible.

Dahil cabinet member si Puno, dapat ay palitan siya. That is the severest administrative penalty that can be imposed by the president, and it can be imposed immediately. Samantalang sa Ombudsman o Department of Justice, marami pa munag imbestigasyon bago i-file sa court kung magbibista pa, matagal pa iyon. Na kay Presidente iyan kung gusto niyang manatili si Puno diyan.

At nakakapagtaka itong Puno na ito�maski kahit anong presidente, ang lakas-lakas niya. Naalala niyo, katulad noong kay Ramos, ang Sulu Hotel operations group para mandaya para manalo si Ramos. Nanalo si Ramos at napaupo niya, e di ang lakas-lakas niya. Kay Estrada, sinabi ko nang napakalabag sa batas ang krimen na gusto niya ay iisang agency lamang ang gagawa ng drug testing sa lahat ng law enforcers at iba pa sa ating bansa. Nandoon pa rin siya. May eskandalo na namn siya. Maaring hindi pakinggan ang aming rekomendasyon kay Pangulong Arroyo kaya talagang hindi pangkaraniwan ang abilidad ng taong ito.

On the other police generals claiming that they know nothing about the money

Kasi they are all under oath, iyan ang problema. Kasi if they are under oath and they tell a lie, they can be accused of a separate and additional crime of perjury. Doon pa lang sa pag-iwas nila sa mga derechong pagtatanong ay suspechoso na masyado sa publiko.

Normal ba na maghawak sila ng ganoong karaming pera?

Hindi ganoon iyon, kaya nga nagtawanan ang mga senador at resource panel. Meron ka mang cash advance na ganoon, ide-deposito mo ito sa bank ng iyong ahensya. Hindi mo hawak-hawak iyan. Mag-i-issue ka lang ng cheke if the need arises and if the supporting papers have all been signed and submitted to you. Kaya hindi mo iyan kukunin lahat-lahat. Hindi pangkaraniwan iyan, walang gumagawa ng ganoon.

News Latest News Feed