P1.5-M/buwan kinikita ng senators — Miriam

IBINULGAR ni Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago na umaabot sa P1.5 million ang maaaring kitain ng isang senador bawat buwan kahit pa nasa P90,000 lamang ang basic monthly salary nila.

Aniya, ito ay dahil sa mga benepisyong ibinibigay sa mga senador buwan-buwan kabilang na ang Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), committee chairmanships at iba pa.

“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,” ayon kay Santiago.

Ibinunyag ito ni Santiago kasabay ng kanyang interpellation kay Sen. Grace Poe kaugnay ng panukalang Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill.

Dahil dito, nakatakdang magsumite ang senadora ng amendments sa FOI bill na layuning buwagin ang pamimigay ng MOOE sa mga mambabatas bawat buwan.

“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,” ani Santiago.

(CYNTHIA MARTIN/NIÑO ACLAN)