Ailing Santiago filed the most bills, hits nonaction on them

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has filed the most number of bills and resolutions in the Senate despite being on sick leave, but she lamented on Friday that the upper chamber had yet to act on several crucial measures she had initiated.

Santiago is seeking action on her anti-epal bill, which would ban public officials from affixing their names and images to public works projects.

She is also hoping for approval of her antipolitical dynasty bill, her Magna Carta for Call Center Workers and the Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom.

“I am disappointed that some committees are sitting on many of my bills, even when there is wide public support for my proposals. These bills will not even be debated on. I suspect that the powers that be fear how these bills would impact our political system,” she said in a statement.

1,324 bills, resolutions

A committee report on the antidynasty bill is set to be filed, according to the chair of the committee on electoral reforms, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III.

Santiago so far has filed 1,324 bills and resolutions in the 16th Congress, which represents a fifth of the total number of measures filed by all the senators.

This despite being on medical leave for lung cancer.

“Only my body is sick, not my brain. I am not yet physically fit to attend plenary sessions. However, I have managed to discharge my duties as chair of certain Senate committees and I continue to file bills and resolutions on a weekly basis.” she said.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, in jail while his plea for bail on plunder charges is being held, followed Santiago in the number of bills and resolutions filed with 642. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV was next with 344.