MANILA - Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago scored senators who have political advertisements for not showing up in Friday's hearing on "infomercials" of Vice President Noli de Castro and several other public officials, which she perceives as premature campaigning.

Santiago, chair of the Senate economic affairs committee, said Senator Richard Gordon was supposed to join her in presiding over the hearing. Gordon is chairman of the blue ribbon committee.

Except for Senator Loren Legarda, other senators who are members of the economic affairs committee were not present at the hearing.

"Since it's a Friday, they may have gone to their country homes. But the habit of senators is that even a fleet of armoured tanks will not prevent them from attending a TV hearing, if there's an opportunity," the senator said.

She added that a possible reason for the senators' absence is because the topic of the hearing is "a hot potato that nobody wants to approach with a 10-foot pole."

She also cited the legal adage, "He who comes to court must come to court with clean hands." Senators with political ads could be liable for premature campaigning, she said.

Gordon's office, meanwhile, clarified that the senator was Vietnam for the Philippine National Red Cross, which he heads.

Among those who have TV and radio ads are: Senators Mar Roxas, Manuel Villar, and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

Roxas and Villar have said they intend to run for president in 2010. Enrile is eligible for another term.

Villar and Roxas are both members of the economic affairs committee. The other members are Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino, Jr.; Rodolfo Biazon; Gringo Honasan; Jamby Madrigal; and, Alan Peter Cayetano.

Gordon appeared in a locally released government TV commercial, Wow Philippines, before the senatorial elections in 2004. Gordon won a seat in 2004.

De Castro, Bayani Fernando of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Efraim Genuino of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, finance chief Margarito Teves, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya and Health Secretary Francisco Duque, were present at the hearing.

Abandoned

Santiago urged those present at the hearing to defer their plans to run for the Senate if they are sincere about serving the public.

She scored senators for only attending hearings that suit their interests.

"Tingnan mo, may ginagawa ako na sa tingin ko ay para sa interes ng publiko, mag-isa lang ako. Tapos tingnan mo ang mga magiging kalaban ko kung hindi ko ito dahan-dahanin," the senator said.

Santiago, meanwhile, ordered the issuance of subpoena duces tecum against Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. for giving "totally unacceptable excuses" for snubbing the hearing. All three Cabinet secretaries also have informercials.