Sen. Miriam jokes about pork barrel scam

Feisty Senator Miriam Santiago on Wednesday took to humor in criticizing the pork barrel scam in which state funds were allegedly channeled into questionable non-government organizations—a scam some of her colleagues may have been involved in.

"Hold-upper: 'Akin na ang pera mo.' Lalaki: 'Hindi mo ba ako kilala? Isa akong congressman!' Hold-upper: 'Kung ganun, akin na ang pera namin!'" she said during her keynote address at the 30th Annual Convention of the Philippine Blood Coordinating Council.

"Politics is a word that is a combination of two syllables—'poli' meaning many, plus 'ticks' meaning blood-sucking parasites."

"Para isa ibang tao, ang high blood pressure nila congenital, meaning nanggaling sa magulang. Sa akin, iba naman, ang high blood pressure ko ay political."

"The problem with political jokes is that they always get elected."

 "What is the difference between Philippine government and the mafia? The answer: One of them is organized."

"The brain of a Filipino politician has two sides: the left has nothing right in it, the right has nothing left in it."

In describing the lawmakers involved in the scam, Santiago only said: "Baboy!"

Santiago was among the 74 incumbent lawmakers named by the Commission on Audit report to have received funds beyond their pork barrel allocations of P70 million per year during the 2007-2009 period the report covered.

The senator also found appropriate jokes about blood to suit the event.

"Anong blood type ang pwedeng motto? B-positive," Santiago said. — BM/VC, GMA News