Press Release

Miriam to Use CA Veto Vs. Angie

“He halted it, only after media had exposed the brewing environmental scandal. In the language of command responsibility, he knew, or should have known about the controversial application from the very start, but allowed the permit to be issued. Later, when public pressure has already built up, he made a show of canceling the permit,” she said.

Santiago, an awarded graftbuster, said that if Reyes knew of the application, then he should have stopped it earlier. But if he did not know of the application, then he was an incompetent administrator. In either case, he was guilty of a crime against the environment.

“Reyes singularly lacks the background and qualifications for the job. By contrast, Lotilla was one of my best students in UP law, and performed well on his job, which I helped to supervise as chair of the Joint Congressional Power Commission,” Santiago said.

As chair of the Senate energy committee for the last three years, Santiago has also been chair of the bicameral JCPC, also known as Powercom.

“I respectfully submit to President Arroyo that Reyes is simply the wrong, maybe the worst, choice. As an ex-general he has lorded it over the various departments of defense, local governments, and environment without a demonstrably deep grasp of the issues involved in those offices. For him to continue in the cabinet would be to indulge the incompetent,” the senator said.

Santiago disagreed with Executive Secretary Ermita’s statement that Reyes “did good” at the DENR, and his other prior posts.

“If he was doing good in all those departments, why was he kicked around like a political football? It only means he is surplusage in the cabinet. Why is it so important to accommodate him? There are dozens of available younger, brilliant civilians with expertise. Reyes is sentimental bric-a-brac who was washed ashore because of the turbulence of people power,” the senator said.

Santiago questioned the competence of Reyes, an ex-military general, to head the energy department.

“He knows zero about energy. As a lawyer acquainted with energy law, I had to educate myself for three years before I became familiar with this sunrise industry. I don’t recall that Reyes shone as a college student, or that he has the makings of a polymath, a person who knows everything about everything,” said Santiago, who sponsored and defended the complex Bio-Fuels Act in the Senate.

Santiago said she was confident that she will remain as a member of the Commission on Appointments, because of the assurance given by Sen. Manny Villar, who is slated to remain as Senate President, and will thus be ex-oficio CA chair.

“I won’t even bother to grill Reyes in the committee hearing, although I’d love to expose him. I am serving notice that I will invoke Section 20 of the CA Rules, which allows one member to veto any nomination. He is unfit and his latest appointment will send the unfortunate message that the partisan military are automatically entitled to cabinet posts as sinecures. He should only hold a position that calls for military knowledge and training,” Santiago said.

Santiago said she remains an administration ally, but will not hesitate to criticize the Arroyo administration if it is subjected to “unconscionable” pressure.

“I only have three years left in politics. I am going head-to-head against anybody who does not do right by the public. Let the games begin!” the feisty senator said.
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