Cayetano: Why would we want to be associated with ‘Dirty Ashtray’ award?

Cayetano: Why would we want to be associated with ‘Dirty Ashtray’ award?

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Pia Cayetano fumed over the notorious Dirty Ashtray Award accorded to Philippine delegates who supposedly blocked global tobacco efforts on the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in Panama.

Speaking at the Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s hearing on Wednesday, Cayetano explained that the Dirty Ashtray Award is a publicly recognized award to “call out those influenced by lobbying for the tobacco industry.”

In her opening remarks, Cayetano said the Dirty Ashtray Award was accorded to the Philippine delegation for the 5th time on the last day of the 10th session of WHO FCTC.

READ: PH gets 5th ‘Dirty Ashtray’ in tobacco control convention

“Bakit tayo nagkaroon ng (Why did we get a) Dirty Ashtray award? Why would we want our Philippine delegation associated with a Dirty Ashtray award? Why would we want to be known as succumbing to the lobby of the tobacco group?” she asked.

“Imbes na itaguyod at ipaglaban ang kalusugan ng mamamayang Pilipino, nag-attend ang napakaraming opisyales dito sa WHO event. So kasama din yun sa gusto nating alamin,” she added.

(Instead of promoting and fighting for the health of the Filipino people, many officials attended the WHO event. So that is also what we want to know.)

‘Largest delegation’

According to Cayetano, it was not an issue that Filipinos joined the event, but the problem lies with the number of Philippine government officials who attended the conference.

“Naga-attend din po ako ng conference. Pero itong conference na ito, ang Pilipinas ang may pinakamalaking delegation,” said Cayetano.

(I also attend conferences. But at this conference, the Philippines has the largest delegation.)

Later in the hearing, it was disclosed that the Philippines sent 34 delegates to the event.

Atty. Hubert Dominic Guevara, senior deputy executive secretary and head of

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