Miriam uses speech to lash out at Senate foes

After weeks of silence, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago is at it again. At the annual convention of nurses at the Manila Hotel on Friday, the feisty lawmaker used her keynote speech to lash out at the senators with whom she had clashed recently. Although Santiago did not identify the senators in her speech, which was about corruption in the country, it was obvious that she was alluding to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Panfilo Lacson. One senator, she said, distributed cash gifts last Christmas — an obvious reference to Enrile whose son, Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile, was not spared by Santiago's tirades. The younger Enrile is gunning for a Senate seat in the May midterm elections. "Hindi siya nakuntento sa sarili niya, ngayon may junior pa siya,” Santiago said. “Kung hindi lang matanda 'yan, suntukin ko siya." In what could be seen as another reference to Enrile, Santiago also accused one senator of being a smuggler. Santiago has earlier called for an investigation on the role of Enrile in the operations of the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Free Port (CSEZ), which had defied a Supreme Court banning the importation of vehicles. A report on GMA News' “24 Oras” said Enrile no longer intends to comment on Santiago's tirades. In an interview with reporters after her speech, Santiago admitted she was referring to the two Enriles. "Nakakapagtaka 'yun kasi lahat bawal ito sinasabi ng Korte Suprema bawal sa buong bansa eh bakit ito this is an exeption that has no basis in law or in fact," she said. But she quickly noted that she has no personal issue against Jack, only against political dynasties. "I am against political dynasties by definition plus I believe positions in especially high positions in national office should be held on the basis of competence and experience," Santiago said. Miriam vs. Lacson Aside from this, Santiago also criticized a person whom she said has been falsely accusing her of misusing Senate funds. "Hindi natin malaman kung tao ito, babae ito, o third sex ito," she said. Lacson had alleged that Santiago has actually been using Senate funds to pay for her office's rental fees, her housemaid's salaries, and her family's grocery allowance. He had also called her a “hypocrite” and a "crusading crook." Santiago, in response, threatened to expose Lacson's supposed true sexuality. Lacson denied being gay and said he is building up more cases against Santiago, including allegations that she used her pork barrel to construct a cockpit arena in Pasig. In an interview after her speech, Santiago denied this. "DBM (Department of Budget and Management) would never approve a request for a project to build a cockpit...that in itself is already proof that he is lying," she said. But she admitted that her husband was a cockfight enthusiast who owns a cock-breeding farm. "[But] to say that he owns a cockpit is an outright lie. Ang talagang sinungaling ng isang bakla itong ibang bakla nakakahanga dahil nagdudulot sila ng karangalan sa ating bansa pero may ibang bakla na talagang pweh," she said. She also threatened to expose more issues against Lacson in a privilege speech when Congress resumes session in June. Lacson lashes back Lacson, in a text message, lashed back at Santiago. "Kung hindi ba sira ulo niya, una, nilinaw ko nang ilang beses na hindi ako bakla; pangalawa, ang isyu laban sa kanya ay graft dahil ginamit niya pera ng bayan para ibayad sa sarili niya," he said. "Hindi ako tulad niya na kurakot. Wala akong naibulsang pondo sa buong panahon na naglingkod ako sa gobyerno at hindi ako marunong tumanggap ng suhol," added Lacson, a former police official. He also said that Santiago should just answer her graft cases before the Office of the Ombudsman like a sane person. "March 27 pa ang full moon kaya nakapagtataka bakit maaga siyang sinumpong." Lacson, who said he did not start the fight with Santiago, also said he will not turn his back from their quarrel.   "If she hits me hard, I'll hit her back harder. If she insults me, I'll insult her back and more harshly. But I will tell the cruel truth about her if she spreads lies about me," he said. — KBK, GMA News