- Santiago says rivals should be subjected to a lifestyle check
- She says people deserve to know where they got their money to spend so much on ads
- Senator’s call comes as PCIJ bared four presidentiables spent a total of P3.2 billion for ads
MANILA, Philippines – In light of a Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) report disclosing the sky-high expenses incurred by her rivals for their campaign ads, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said she wants a lifestyle check done as the money they spent was grossly disproportionate to their own net worth.
“They spent at least five times the net worth they have declared for ads. One candidate even spent 17 times his net worth. Where did they get the money? If the public is to speculate, they would think that these candidates have either stolen from public funds or peddled their influence,” she told the Philippine Star.
Santiago added that the public deserve to know if the candidates are dipping their hands in government funds or are being bankrolled by interest groups.
“Almost all of these candidates are incumbent public officials, and have access to government funds. They are also prohibited by law from receiving gifts ‘if the value of the gift is under the circumstances manifestly excessive,’” she said. “The people deserve to know who bankrolled the campaigns of elective officials so that when a campaign contributor enjoys benefits to the detriment of the public under the official’s watch, the people would know who to hold accountable.”
According to the PCIJ report which covered the pre-campaign period from January 2015 to January 2016, four presidentiables have spent a combined P3.2 billion on ads.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, who declared a net worth of P60.2 million in 2014, reportedly spent P1.05 billion during that period. Next to him is Sen. Grace Poe (P89.5 million declared net worth) with P1.05 billion, Mar Roxas (P202 million declared net worth) with P969 million, and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (P21.97 million declared net worth) with P146 million.
The report noted that Santiago, who declared a net worth of P73.03 million in 2014, was the only one who did not spend on ads in that period.
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