Grudge match: Miriam, FVR trade barbs in Senate hearing

Fourteen years after their feud over allegations of poll cheating, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and former president Fidel Ramos had a face-off again Thursday during a Senate hearing. The hearing was held to investigate allegations of anomalies regarding the contract between the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp (PSALM) and the YNN Pacific consortium for the sale of the 600-megawatt Masinloc power plant. YNN’s major shareholder is Malaysian firm Ranhill Berhad, which was said to have supported Ramos' political party Lakas in the 1992 presidential elections. Santiago lost to Ramos during that poll. On Thursday, Ramos was invited as a resource person in the public hearing. It was a hearing called by the Senate energy committee which Santiago chairs. The hearing became tense as the two protagonists squared off. At one point, Santiago even ordered Ramos out of the committee room in the midst of the hearing after the former president repeatedly questioned her claims. THE ARGUMENT The verbal exchange came as Ramos was giving a lengthy opening statement denying any involvement in the privatization deal for the Masinloc power plant. Ramos said he was linked to the controversy by persons and parties whom he did not identify through "guilt by association." Answering questions from a stern Santiago, Ramos said: "I'm just saying that the [allegations] against me are without basis because it is about association, madam chairman. It is guilt by association." "I don't know if that is an accepted legal principle in our legal jurisprudence," Ramos said. While delivering the statement, however, Santiago repeatedly interrupted him, irritating the former president. "Guilt by association is guilt when a person …" Santiago started to say, but was cut by Ramos who asked, "May I continue, madam?" Santiago retorted:"No, the chair is speaking. I have the floor whenever I decide to have it." When the lady senator started grilling her political nemesis, Ramos repeatedly interjected and asked why he was being dragged into the controversy. RAMOS ORDERED OUT OF ROOM BUT STAYS PUT It was at this point that Santiago raised her voice and curtly told Ramos: "It is not for you to raise questions with the chair, your function is to answer questions. You are now discharged. Thank you." Despite Santiago's order, Ramos was not immediately ushered out of the room where the hearing was being held because other senators led by Sergio Osmeña III asked follow-up questions. The feud between Santiago and Ramos dates back in 1992 when Santiago lost narrowly to Ramos in the presidential elections. Santiago has since accused Ramos of cheating her of victory.-GMANews.TV