Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago greets supporters during a campaign event at the University if Perpetual Help University in Biñan, Laguna on March 1. Santiago consistently topped a number of student-led election surveys organized in major universities around the country.(MNS photo)
CAVITE, Mar 10 (Mabuhay) – Presidential candidate Mar Roxas on Thursday said he is open to any lifestyle check following the call of one of his rivals, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, to bare where their huge campaign funds come from.
Santiago on Wednesday said the “scandalous amounts” her rivals have so far spent for election advertisements should prompt graft and corruption investigations.
Santiago, author of the proposed Anti-Premature Campaigning Law, questioned how other presidential aspirants can afford to spend for their respective campaigns way beyond the wealth declared in their statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN).
Roxas said he has nothing to hide and all his campaign expenses, including the donations, will all be documented and submitted to the Commission on Elections at the proper time.
“Okay ako sa lifestyle check. Lahat ito isusubmit, bukas ito at walang itinatago, lahat malinis,” Roxas said.
Santiago cited a report of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism which said that the Liberal Party bet has already spent P969 million despite a net worth of only P202 million, as indicated in his latest SALN.
Roxas said his campaign expenses are coming from different sources.
“May mga personal, may mga donations,” he said.
Santiago also cited the expenses of other presidential bets, such as Vice President Jejomar Binay who was allegedly the top spender, having spent P1.05 billion for advertisements, The amount is 17.4 times his net worth of P60.2 million in 2014.
Binay was followed by Sen. Grace Poe, who reportedly spent P1.016 billion on advertisements despite a net worth of only P89.5 million; and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who spent P146 million despite a net worth of P21.97 million.
Santiago said almost all of these candidates are incumbent public officials and have access to government funds. She added that although accepting campaign contributions are standard practice during elections, the candidates are nonetheless obliged to reveal their donors and to pay taxes for the contributions received outside the campaign period.
“The people deserve to know who bankroll 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,” Santiago said in a statement.(MNS)