Miriam: Senate is land of the living dead

MANILA, Philippines - Sen Miriam Defensor Santiago resumed her tirades against some of his colleagues at the Go Negosyo event in Pasay City on Friday.

"Senate is the land of the living dead... Wearing a suit, yet already dead," Santiago said, adding that she is hoping she is also running for a post to "insult" the politicians which she paralleled to "satan".

Santiago made the comparison as she hailed women entrepreneurs during the Go Negosyo event. She said the title of entrepreneurs is better compared to politicians.

Santiago did not let the opportunity pass to criticize anew Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile although she did not directly name him.

To the cheers of the crowd, Santiago hit her colleagues anew for the P2-million bonuses last Christmas.

"Kung senador nga Pasko and Christmas bonuses galing sa taong bayan," she said.

"Ano gagawin mo sa P2-million na galing sa taong bayan?... Maliban lang kung marami kang querida," Santiago said.

Santiago again attacked her nemesis when she dealt with the issue of political dynasties.

At this point, she challenged Enrile to a debate or a duel. "Just say the time and the venue... Or let us just go boxing," she said in Filipino. "And wear shorts."

At the earlier part of her speech, Santiago took exception on Sen. Manny Villar Jr., whose wife Cynthia is running for senator. She noted that Sen. Villar is threading the straight path at the Senate unlike many others.

"Sino baluktot dyan sa senado? Ang dami nila. Puwede ko sila pangalanan," she asked, saying that she would be ready to name these sentors once Congress resumes in June where she enjoys parliamentary immunity.

"Sino mga bakla sa senado? Alam ko din," she said, continuing further her speech on gender empowerment in the country.

Mrs. Villar, who was in the Go Negosyo crowd as among awardees of the event, merely smiled as she listened to the senator's speech.

Also among the distinguished Go Negosyo Filipina Entrepreneurs of 2013 are Amb. Preciosa Soliven (OB Montessori), Charita Puentespina (Orchids and Tropical Plants Inc); Heny Sison (Heny Sisob Culinary School) and Tina Maristela Ocampo (Celestina).

In the same event, Santiago noted how Enrile defied a Supreme Court ruling on car importation in Cagayan. "Kaya kami nag-aaway eh... Kung ka-edad ko lang ito," she said.

Woman Senate President?

In underscoring the importance of women's role in the society, Santiago noted that the Constitution provides the need to recognize the role of women in nation building.

Santiago recognized that while the Philippines had a woman president, it has now a female Chief Justice.

"But Congress has never had a female Senate President or a female Speaker," she noted. "That is because so far, the greater majority in both chambers of Congress has always been men. Possibly, this is one reason why there is so much corruption in Congress," she said.

At a point when she appeared to have forgotten part of her speech, Santiago noted that forgetting can be a sign of aging.

"I don't think that the Pope is physically incapable to carry his duties... In the spirit of supreme sacrifice, he will try...maybe he has mental sickness," she noted.

Santiago admitted she has not always been a good Catholic, most of the time posing questions to God.

In her speech,  Santiago pushed for gender equality in the country by espousing women empowerment.

To close the gender gap, Santiago said that the government should impose quotas or temporary special measures to increase women's political participation.

"In practice, women should have an equal opportunity to serve as party officials and to be nominated as candidates for election," she said.