Miriam resumes tirades against JPE

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago yesterday resumed her tirades against some of her colleagues in the Senate during a Go Negosyo event at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

“Senate is the land of the living dead... (Some) wearing suits, yet already dead,” Santiago said.

She lamented being away from the campaign trail, where she said she would have lambasted and embarrassed these politicians “who are like Satan.”

Santiago made the comparison as she hailed women entrepreneurs, who she said are better compared to politicians.

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

Santiago and three others – Senators Alan and Pia Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV – received a much smaller amount compared to what was given to their fellow senators.

“The Christmas bonuses of the senators came from the public,” she said. “What are you going to do with P2 million unless you have many mistresses?”

She added that her enemies have resorted to personal attacks against her when she merely exposed the truth.

She said she is not retreating from the fight, and is in fact ready to bare all that she knows against them, especially once Congress resumes session in June.

Meanwhile, Santiago made an exception of Sen. Manny Villar Jr., whose wife Cynthia is running for senator.

Santiago said that Villar is treading the straight path in the Senate, unlike his fellow senators.

“Who are the crooked politicians in the Senate? There are many, I can name them,” she said.

“Who are those gay in the Senate? I also know,” she said, as she continued her speech on gender empowerment in the country.

Mrs. Villar, who was among the Go Negosyo awardees for spearheading livelihood opportunities through the Villar Foundation, merely smiled as she listened to Santiago’s speech.