Miriam gets back at PNoy

By Macon Ramos-Araneta | Posted on September 17, 2012 |

 

 

Vows to veto confirmation of Roxas, other no-shows
Senator Miriam Santiago on Sunday threatened to block the confirmation of incoming Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II and other Cabinet members who snubbed a hearing she called Friday to look into allegations of corruption in the dealings of resigned Interior undersecretary Rico Puno, a close friend of President Benigno Aquino III.
“All the Cabinet members whom I gave invitation—since I am a member of the Commission on Appointments—I will veto them,” said Santiago in an interview over radio dzBB.
Aside from Roxas, those who skipped Santiago’s hearing were Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.
Of the four, only Ochoa has been confirmed by the CA.
Santiago said she could invoke Section 20 of the commission’s rules to singlehandedly block the confirmation of any presidential appointee.
“The only way they can stop me is by having me shot, or having me shipped off to the ICC,” she said, referring to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands to which she has been assigned.
Senator Panfilo Lacson said in a separate radio interview that Santiago was sending a message to Malacañang.
On Friday, Santiago blasted the President for preventing his Cabinet members from testifying before her committee.
She also reiterated her accusation that some senators stayed away from the hearing on orders from Malacanang.
But Lacson denied the charge, saying a call from the Palace would have been an insult. Senator Gregorio Honasan] had a schedule in Iloilo,” Lacson said.
Lacson added that even if he were in the city, he would have skipped the hearing because there were questions about jurisdiction that might be challenged before the Supreme Court.
Lacson, who is on his last term as senator, also denied Santiago’s accusation that he was looking for a job in the government.(END)