Book fair crowd mobs Miriam after Cabinet snub

MANILA, Philippines - A day after her committee hearing was allegedly snubbed by Cabinet members and most of her fellow senators, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago found she wasn’t lacking in fans at the book fair Saturday in the SMX Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

When she entered the hall filled with exhibits of books from various suppliers and dealers, Santiago’s name was announced as a special guest and the crowd of around 600 people applauded spontaneously.

Santiago could hardly move when she stood near the entrance because she was immediately surrounded by a crowd who wanted to take cell phone photos with her.

The senator made excuses so that she could buy her imported law books, but kibitzers followed her from booth to booth.

In every booth, Santiago consented to photo opportunities, but after sometime had to excuse herself so she could go inside and examine the books.

The crowd waited patiently outside each booth, and the photo sessions would begin all over again until the senator would excuse herself again to enter another booth.

Starting last Sunday, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media have carried accounts and photos of her in casual linen blouse, peering at the spine of law books and paying for them at the cashier’s table.

Occasionally, her supporters would keep up her spirits with remarks such as: “Don’t let them get you down” and “Fight for the right!”

During the hearing of her committee on revision of laws, Santiago was unusually relaxed and playful, limiting herself to teasing resigned interior undersecretary Rico Puno, PNP chief Nicanor Bartolome, and the head of the PNP bids and awards committee, Gen. Emelito Sarmiento.

During the hearing, Santiago established that although Puno denied having any unique authority over the PNP, no less than Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., in his review of the report on the Luneta hostage-taking incident of 2010, wrote that: “Usec. Puno... assumed the functions of DILG Usec. for peace and order, directly in charge of PNP affairs pursuant to the order of the President.”

Santiago asked Puno why his version directly contradicted Ochoa’s version, but Puno could not explain.