Miriam fumes at infomercials of 'dimwitted rhinos'
MANILA - Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Monday again slammed government officials' infomercials in a fiery speech at the Senate, calling them a herd of "thick-skinned, dimwitted rhinoceros."
Even before delivering her privilege speech, Santiago was already hitting government officials for their infomercials, which she said was a form of electioneering.
One of the officials she vented her ire on was Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) chairman Augusto Syjuco.
"Pasayaw-sayaw pa, ang puti na ng buhok niya! Hindi ba nakakahiya 'yan, nakakawala ng respeto sa ganoong uri ng opisyal sa publiko?" Santiago said.
Santiago cited a report by the Commission on Audit (COA) that said Syjuco's ad cost P28.3 million.
The senator also had words for Interior and Local Government secretary Ronaldo Puno.
"Sobra pang kapal ng make-up," she said.
Puno's infomercials from 2008 to 2009 reportedly cost nearly a million pesos.
"Tapos pina-bira niya ako sa kolumnista niya na hinahabol ko lang daw siya. Sino ba siya para habulin ko nang mag-isa? My goodness. I married one of the most handsome men in the entire country, and sasabihin niya hinahabol ko siya?," Santiago said.
Santiago said that since last year, Cabinet officials have already spent P118 million for their ads.
"Walang hiya na talaga ito. We have been invaded by a herd of rhinoceros that are not only thick-skinned, but also dimwitted," she said.
While delivering her speech, the senator was sidetracked by some people at the gallery.
"To those two girls there... will you please stop smiling and looking at your cellphones? If you're not listening to my speech, please step out, now!" Santiago shouted towards two women at the gallery.
Upon resuming her speech, Santiago insisted government agencies should not be given advertising funds.
She also called on television networks and non-government organizations to file a complaint before the Commission on Elections.
Santiago found an ally in her colleague, Richard Gordon, who questioned other senators who have their own infomercials.
Leading that list are Senators Manny Villar and Mar Roxas, who have both declared their intention to run for president in 2010. Maricar Bautista, ABS-CBN News
Walang Mudo
Tayo na yata ang bansang pinaka marumi sa buong mundo, kung ang pag-uusapan ay pulitika, wala nang sinasanto ang mga pulitikong ito kahit alam nilang ang kinakain o pinapakain nila sa pamilya nila ay galing sa nakaw na yaman ng mamayang mga pilipino. Tulad ni madam ARROYO na isang pasimuno sa kawalan ng delikadisa sa pag gasta ng pera ng bayan. Kung ikaw ba naman lagi ng nagdadasal at pumapasok sa tahanan ng DIYOS at alam mong kung paano naghihirap ang iyong bansa ay patuloy ka pa rin sumasaula sa pera ng bayan. Tulad din itong mga walang hiyang kabinite nya na pag gumasta ng pera ng bayan akala nila sa kanila, hoy... mahiya kayo.... hindi nyo pera yan.......kung gusto nyo ipaabot ang inyong mensahe sa publiko ay maraming paraan na hindi gagastos ng milyon.......tulad nitong SUIYOKONG ito... ng TESDA at itong si PUNO puno ng kayabangan na di naman nababawasan ang krimen sa bansa at itong si BAYANI puro ka lang papogi. Hoy.... mga buwesit kung inyong mga MUKHA ang nakalagay sa mga ads at sa TV, bakit di lang ang inyong mga nagawa para alam ng tao...di yung mga MUKHA nyo na nakakhiya.........
pansin nyo ba?
si santiago na lang ang natitirang pulitiko na walang pinapanigan, kundi ang taumbayan! pero bat ayaw nya mag presidente. sya na lang hinihintay ko na kumandidato! kung ayaw mong mag presidente, please lang, mag silbika pa sa bayan. si gordon, naaksidente sa pagdadala ng relief goods, samantalang si mr. palengke, nagpapadyak na sa lansangan, naghihikayat na lumaban tayo. umpisahan mo na, kung gusto mo maging lider... wag yung puro advertisement. madam miriam, umaasa kami sayo.
Isa Pa nga Para Sa Dinner sa Le Cirque
Pwede bang mag-privilege speech po ulit kayo tungkol naman sa mga "hayop" na gagastos ng $20,000.00 sa isang kainan.
Mga rhinoceros at dimwitted rin ba sila?
Sen. Miriam fuming over infomercials
More than P28 million pesos on useless -we-know-you-are-doing-these-things-for-the-elections-types of propaganda? How many Filipinos can THAT feed? How many Filipinos can be fed by more than 100 million pesos?
In grade school we are taught to wipe our own faces before we point out others. These politicians are far from public servants - they are obviously self servants.
The issue of president spending a lot of money for her trips abroad doesn't look like that much of big deal now considering the amount of money it takes for public officials run for office.
Media outlets must also begin to look into limiting the number of ads they will be running for these politicians - if they don't and these unworthy politicians are elected because of their deep pockets then in the long run, you will be contributing to the demise of the country. You are accessory to future graft and corruption and therefore guilty of ruining our country. You have set your values aside for money. If the country does not prosper due to the acts of selfish politicians then the economy will not grow theoretically affecting the growth of these media outlets too! Think about that.
Yan ang Senador
Yan ang senator na dapat hangaan, hindi yong iba na pa-pogi na keso in aid of legislation tulad ni Ping, Mar, Jamby o halos lahat na yata ng ating magagaling (?) daw na sena-tong... Pero sana madamme senator sinama mo na rin ang ibang senators na meron ding infomercial na yan para parehas lang kasi wala namang maniniwala sa mga sinasabi na sa bulsa nila galing ang ginastos dyan, saka kahit na pangangampanya na rin yon di ba na hindi pa man dapat di ba... Dapat mag resign lahat sila pero hindi naman mangyayari yon kasi nga sabi mo tulad sila sa mga rhino na MAKAKAPAL ANG BALAT AT MUKHA kaya wala ring mangyayari dyan pero at least may magiting na senador na naglabas nyan.. Pero alam ninyo if walang informercials ang ibang senator na naghahangad na maging Presidente bah sigurado dadaktak din ang mga yon di ba senator Mar at Chiz di ba ha...
Sana ipagpatuloy ninyo yan madamme senator dyan talaga ako hanga sa inyo kaya hindi ako nagsisisi ng iboto ko kayo even noong kandidato ka sa pagka pangulo medyo minalas lang tayo...
just a repost...
100$ in support...
I am 100% in support of this and similar investigation against all presidentiables. In my several comments to your previous reports, I always clamor for such investigation in the interest of the public. The reason behind is that the people will have an informed decision this coming presidential election. Anim na taon ang ipanunungkulan ng susunod na presidente kaya natural lamang na suriin nating mabuti ang mga kandidato, to avoid the vicious cycle of corrupt practices in the future.
However, I read about Sen. Santiago's preference to run under the ticket of Villar by reason of a debt of gratitude. Unfortunately, Villar is also into infomercials. I don't know how she will reconcile this but I will salute her if her investigation will bear fruit. I only hope that this investigation is not skin-deep. Kudos to you, Sen. Santiago! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
Madamme Senator- nasa likod mo kami!!
SUPORTAHAN DAKA!!!PAGDATING SA PAG-E-EXPOSE' SA MGA "HINAYUPAK" na GINAGAWANG tanga na pauli-ulit ang Taong-bayan....OK sana kung sarili nilang kuwarta ang ginagastos eh....ang problema....nagangamatay sa "LOOB NG JEEP" ang tao dahil sa "GUTOM"...dahil sa mga kinurakot nilang pera ng bayan......
IISIP ako ng paraan kung paano TURUAN ang Tao....na "IBULSA" ang mga "PADULAS" nila sa darating na eleksyon at IBOTO naman ang "KARAPAT-DAPAT"......yung mga walang-bahid TRAPO/KOTONG/DUGO/malansang amoy ng kurakot!!!
Sen. Miriam fuming over infomercials
I'm always amused with Sen. Miriam when she is having her privilege speech, aside from her interesting presentation which includes a lot of information and hard hitting truths about the crappiness of many politicians and government officials, she voiced out what most of us want to say and with much ardor and wit. Keep it up Sen. Miriam, you never fail to get my admiration