Senate invites PNoy's legislative liaison to shed light on alleged use of lobby money in sin tax bill

The Senate has invited two Cabinet secretaries as well as Presidential Legislative Liaison Office chief Manuel Mamba to shed light on allegations that lobby money was involved in the alleged “watering down” of the sin tax bill.   The hearing, however, will not be open to the public, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said in a radio interview Wednesday.   Enrile said they sent a letter to Mamba, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Health Secretary Enrique Ona regarding the planned executive session.   "Ang secretary of Finance at secretary of Health pinaimbita namin. Inimbitahan namin pati ‘yung nagdaldal na presidential legislative liaison officer. Pinadalhan ng sulat," he said.   "Pinaimbitahan namin pero hindi public investigation o inquiry. Siguro executive session ‘yun," Enrile added.   The decision to invite the government officials was reached during a caucus Tuesday.   Enrile did not say when the executive session would be held. Evidence   "Gusto namin malaman kung meron silang ebidensiya, isiwalat nila. Mahirap naman ‘yung binabansagan mo ‘yung tao na ganyan hindi mo na mabubura ‘yun," Enrile said.   Mamba was quoted in a newspaper article as saying that "big lobby money" was the main reason why past administrations did not approve the sin tax measure for the past 15 years.   He also said lawmakers who would not support the government proposal of increased tax in tobacco and alcohol products is subject to suspicion of receiving lobby money or being bribed by lobby groups of multinational companies. Lung cancer   Enrile said he wants Ona to explain the relation between cigarette smoking and lung cancer.   "Ilan ba ang namamatay sa cancer dito sa buong Pilipinas at ilan ang dahil sa sigarilyo? Natitiyak ba nila iyon? Ilan ba ang nagsisigarilyo sa buong bansa? Ilan diyan ang namamatay sa kanser? bakit yung iba hindi namamatay sa kanser?" he asked.   Enrile also accused non-government groups that receive grants from international organizations of allowing themselves to be used to pressure lawmakers.   "Pini-pressure nila ‘yung mga mambabatas sa ilalim ng grupo na ito na binibigyan nila ng pera. Gusto ba ng bayan ‘yan? Gusto ba ng mamamayang Filipino na ang kanilang halal na inaasahan nila na pag-isipan ang kanilang kapakanan ay ipi-pressure, uutusan?" he said. — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News