Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said she will file an amendment to the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill to make it mandatory for the proper government agencies to publish, not only the basic salary but also the allowances and other sources of personal income of all public officials, more particularly, senators like herself.
“The basic monthly salary of a senator is P90,000. But in all, the total monthly income of a senator, allowed by law, could reach as much as P1.5 million monthly,” she said, while interpellating Sen. Grace Poe on the FOI bill.
When questioned by Santiago, Poe said that she would welcome the amendment.
“In particular, I want the Senate to stop the practice of giving MOOE on a monthly basis,” Santiago said, referring to the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses given to senators on a monthly basis.
“Let us dismantle the MOOE, which is a source of additional income for every senator. Let us list down all the senators’ sources of income, including their MOOE, chairmanship of certain committees, or even just by becoming a member of oversight committees, or of the Commission on Appointments,” Santiago said.
Santiago first made her call for disclosure of all Senate emoluments when she was elected senator in 1996, but elicited no support from any other senator, except Sen. Juan Flavier.
