Senator Pia Cayetano. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.NET FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Amid the controversy surrounding the use of Senate funds, Senator Pia Cayetano announced on Tuesday that she would turn over to the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) the P250,000 check that she received from Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile last December.
The move came after Enrile, in a privilege speech Monday, noted how Cayetano was “conspicuously silent” on the P2.2 million additional maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) when she herself had been following on it from the Office of the Senate President.
Cayetano admitted that her office had indeed inquired about the additional MOOE but it was only after learning that she was among the four senators, who were not given P1.6 million, the last tranche of the fund, given to 18 senators last month.
“I humbly asked, why was I excluded? I don’t know the reason why. Am I being penalized for speaking my mind and for pushing legislation that is contrary to the views of the Senate leadership? I can’t apologize for the stand I have taken on the RH (Reproductive Health) and the sin tax law,” said the senator, who stood up on the floor to speak on the issue.
“And if this is the price I have to pay to fight for the things that I believe in, then I will accept the imputations that come with my job.”
“As for the P250,000check from the Office of the Senate President, I will turn this over to the DSWD for their programs for the homeless, abused and abandoned children,” she added.
Enrile said the P250,000 she gave each senator last December came from the savings of his office.
Cayetano said she was saddened that her silence on the issue was misinterpreted by the Senate leader.
“Out of courtesy and respect for the Senate President, I did not comment when my humbled Christmas gift was returned. The same goes with this issue of the MOOE,” she said, referring to the Christmas gift she had given the Senate leader.
Enrile earlier admitted that he had returned Cayetano and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s gifts to him.
“It saddens me that in my desire to be respectful to the Senate President and not make public statement before inquiring from him or the staff-in-charge, the Senate President prefers to impute malice upon my silence,” she further said.