MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE 2) Cabinet officials who did not show up in the Senate hearing on political advertisements have been threatened with arrest if they would fail again to attend its next hearing.

An angry Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago also asked the public not to vote in next year?s elections those absent officials.

?Yung hindi dumating, hahabulin ko. Biruin mo gusto pang maging senador???Kaya huwag nyong iboto lahat yang mga yan,? she said.

?Ipapasubpoena ko sila.. Kung absent pa rin sila sa susunod na hearing, ipaparesto ko sila at matulog sa ilalim ng basement hanggang mag eleksyon,? she further said.

Santiago particularly directed the investigating body to subpoena Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, Tesda Director General Augusto Syjuco , and Commission on Audit chairman Reynaldo Villar.

All four government officials nformed the body that they had prior engagements but Santiago said they did not give her committee ?the courtesy of saying when and where.?

Vice President Noli de Castro and several Cabinet officials showed up at the hearing on the alleged premature campaign spending, purportedly using government funds.

Aside from De Castro, also present at the hearing by the joint committees on economic affairs and on accountability of public officers and investigations or the blue ribbon were Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Health Secretary Francisco Duque, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya and Philippine Amusement and Games Corporation (Pagcor) chairman Efraim Genuino.

Only Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, head of the economic affairs committee, was present to preside over the forum that started a little past 10: 00 a.m.

Santiago said she could proceed with the hearing even without a quorum, citing a previous incident in 1988 where a committee with only one senator was allowed to conduct business so long as he or she was authorized by colleagues.

She said she had notified her colleagues about the hearing and their absence, implying that that ?they leave it to me to n conduct the hearing.?

But Santiago took a swipe at her colleagues, who did not participate in the hearing.

She said the issue might be too hot too handle that they just chose not to attend the hearing.

??Those who have stayed away themselves are guilty of what we are investigating,? she pointed out.