TRILLANES AMONG TOP 5 BIGGEST SPEAKERS AT SENATE
MANILA, FEBRUARY 2, 2010 (STAR) By Christina Mendez - Despite being detained for rebellion charges, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV still managed to join the ranks of the top five biggest spenders at the Senate along with Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Senators Gregorio Honasan, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Francis Pangilinan.The itemized list of amounts paid to and expenses incurred by each senator from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2008, released by Commission on Audit and published yesterday at The STAR showed that Honasan was the biggest spender with total expenses amounting to P17.902 million.
Estrada with P17.521 million, Revilla with P17.280 million, Trillanes with P17,224 million and Pangilinan with P17.224 million complete the so-called P17-million club at the Senate.
Sen. Benigno Simeon Aquino III is the sixth biggest spender at P16.791 million; followed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile at P16.295 million; Rodolfo Biazon at P16.021 million; Alan Peter Cayetano at P16.017 million; Pia Cayetano at P15.925 million; Juan Miguel Zubiri at P15.916 million.
Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. took 11th spot with P15.766 million in expenditures; followed by Sen. Jamby Madrigal, P15.568 million; Francis Escudero, P15.518 million; Loren Legarda, P15.451 million, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, P15.377 million; Lito Lapid, P15.355 million; Panfilo Lacson, 15.214 million; Manuel Roxas II, P15.038 million; Richard Gordon, P14.642 million; minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., 14.382 million.
Sen. Joker Arroyo remained the “scrooge” of the Senate with the lowest expenditures placed at P12.646 million.
All senators received an annual salary of P420,000 each for the period covering Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2008.
Jetsetters
Trillanes, ironically, also incurred P247,404 under the bracket of “local travel expenses,” which seemed to be the “ceiling” for all senators.
Only Biazon and Lacson listed foreign expenses with the former accounting for P318,595 and Lacson, P553,136.05.
For their staff members’ travel expenses, Legarda topped the list with P2.928 million in local travel followed by her running mate Villar with P2.578 million, Lapid with P1.848 million; Pimentel, P1.829 million; Alan Cayetano, P1.741 millionl Santiago, P1703 million; Pangilinan, P1.672 million; Roxas, P1.382 million; Pia Cayetano, P1.341 million; Biazon P1.382 million; Enrile, P1.178 million; Estrada, P1.173 million; and Escudero P1.020 million.
All in the service of the Filipino
Senators Angara, Aquino, Arroyo, Gordon, Lacson, Madrigal, Revilla, Trillanes and Zubiri pegged their respective staff’s travel expenses at the minimum, which is P878,496.
Biazon’s staff incurred P445,495 in expenses in foreign travel, followed by Trillanes with P253,810 and Lacson P136,455.
All other senators had no expenditures on foreign travel.
Estrada had the highest amount pegged under salaries and benefits of staff with P9.835 million, followed by Honasan, P9.612 million. The “thriftiest” is Arroyo, who spent P1.925 million in salaries and benefits of his staff.
The report signed by resident auditor lawyer Emilio Asur also showed the respective expenses incurred by the 23 senators for meetings and conferences; professional/consultancy fees; supplies and materials; rental of office space/equipment; extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses; other maintenance and operating expenses and capital outlay.
Icban takes oath By MARVIN SY (The Philippine Star) Updated February 02, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Newly appointed Press Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr. was sworn into office yesterday and vowed to have a stress-free stint in the last few months of the Arroyo administration.
Speaking with Palace reporters shortly after he took his oath of office before President Arroyo, Icban admitted that he needed to keep his health in check because of his age and some ailments he suffered a few years back.
At 74, Icban noted that he was way past retirement age but his dedication and love for journalism kept him working every day for the past 56 years.
Icban took over from Cerge Remonde who passed away last Jan. 19.
Remonde suffered a heart attack and his doctor said this was due to several factors, including stress.
Icban noted that he and Remonde were friends and cited the work ethic of his predecessor during his stint as press secretary.
Aside from facing the media for interviews and press briefings on a daily basis, Remonde also had to accompany the President during her hectic domestic and international sorties.
Icban admitted that he could not take too much stress, particularly on his heart, after undergoing angioplasty to free up a blocked artery in 2004.
He also suffered from a slipped disc in 2000, which he said caused him a lot of pain.
Just like many people his age, Icban takes eight different kinds of maintenance medicine.
He said his cholesterol level has gone down significantly.
Unlike his predecessors, Icban would be more of a behind the scenes guy, content with playing a supporting role to the deputy presidential spokespersons who have been at Malacañang longer.
“I guess I would just do a lot of smiling for the meantime. Relax and don’t take it (job) too much to heart,” Icban said in jest.
“Maybe later when I know more about what’s happening, I can help,” he added.
He said his role would mainly be a facilitator for the media, particularly in these last few months of the administration when the President would be presenting her legacy to the people.
Icban has been in the newspaper business for five decades, starting out with the Manila Times under Chino Roces and then with the Manila Bulletin.
He is the editor-in-chief of the Manila Bulletin but was allowed to go on leave to take on the job offered to him by the President.
Mrs. Arroyo and Icban both come from the province of Pampanga, the latter being chairman of the Kapampangan in Media Inc.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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