Senator Santiago scores inaction on her pet bills

MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago may be on an extended sick leave due to chronic fatigue but that doesn’t mean her colleagues can sit on her pet bills.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Santiago on Saturday called out Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV for allowing her antipolitical dynasty and antisignage of public works bills to gather dust in their respective committees.

Santiago’s antidynasty bills seek to ban spouses and relatives of public officials within the second degree of affinity or consanguinity from running for office at the same time.

They also seek to ban the spouses and relatives within the second degree of affinity and consanguinity from occupying an elective post vacated by a relative.

The bill against political signage has been more popularly called the “anti-epal” measure.  Epal is a Filipino colloquial term for thick-skinned politicians who take credit for projects he or she didn’t work for and were paid with taxpayer money.

“I am disappointed. Without a public clamor, these bills will never see the light of day. The committees to which these bills were referred are sitting on them,” Santiago said yesterday.

Santiago’s Senate Bill Nos. 55 and 1580 against political dynasties have been referred to Pimentel’s committee on electoral reforms, while the anti-epal Senate Bill No. 54 has been referred to Trillanes’ panel on civil service.

Senate Bill Nos. 54 and 55 were filed back on July 1, 2013, the first day of the 16th Congress.  Senate Bill No. 1580 refined her definition of what constitutes a political dynasty.

Santiago said she had written both senators requesting a public hearing on her bills because they “have been pending in the Senate for a prolonged period of time.”

“It would be best for the legislative process to ensure that the bills are at least reported out to the plenary, considering their wide implications on our political system,” Santiago said.

Sought for comment, Trillanes said the anti-epal bill would be tackled this month.

Trillanes, however, didn’t answer a follow-up question on why it has taken some time for his committee to schedule a hearing on the measure.

Pimentel didn’t answer text messages seeking his side on what Santiago said was a delay in tackling the bill against political dynasties.

Santiago said that aside from the Anti-Political Dynasty and Anti-Signage of Public Works Bill, she has four other bills that have yet to be acted upon.

These are the Deceased Organ Donor Bill, the Magna Carta for Call Center Workers, the HIV and AIDS Policy and Plan Bill, and the  Certificate of Intention to Run for Public Office Bill.

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