VIDEO: Miriam: Enrile a liar, womanizer, king of corrupt politics

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Miriam Santiago adds another chapter to her colorful rivalry with Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. She asks the justice department to probe Enrile’s 7 crimes, calling the Senate Minority leader a liar, womanizer, and the drama king of corrupt politics.

Ayee Macaraig reports.

This girl is on fire.

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago burns with rage in her counter-privilege speech against her arch-enemy Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile. Santiago blasts Enrile for resorting to personal insults instead of addressing her allegation that he is the brains behind the pork barrel scam. But Santiago also fires her own ad hominem attacks.

MIRIAM SANTIAGO, PHILIPPINE SENATOR: He looks like a female llama surprised in her bath. He reminds me of nothing so much as a dead fish, before it has time to stiffen. If he has the courage, he should switch place with me: He should be funny, and I’ll be the asshole.

Santiago calls on Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to investigate the supposed sins of the man she calls the prince of darkness. She charges him with 7 crimes, including supposedly running a smuggling and gambling empire. She hits him for 2 turn-arounds on his supposed ambush before the declaration of Martial Law.

MIRIAM SANTIAGO, PHILIPPINE SENATOR: My attacker is the icon of shameless lying. Enrile with his eternal philandering and unexplained wealth desperately needs a shrink, as a mental health measure. His mind is sick, sick, sick.

If Enrile dug up her low bar exam grades, Santiago pries into Enrile’s supposed affair with his resigned chief of staff, Gigi Reyes. She cites a 1998 news report quoting Enrile’s wife.

MIRIAM SANTIAGO, PHILIPPINE SENATOR: Cristina was reported as saying ‘that she no longer could tolerate his chasing after other women, including domestic helpers, cooks, and assistants. Walang pinapatawad! Kaya ayokong tumabi sa kanya eh! Nagpa-birthday party para sa querida niya. (He chases after everyone! That’s why I don’t want to go near him! He held a birthday party for his mistress.) And this libertine pontificates about morality?

Enrile says Santiago’s speech only confirmed what he said about her mental health.

JUAN PONCE ENRILE, PHILIPPINE SENATOR: I’m sad she attacked innocent people, especially my chief of staff, even my maids, security, I treat them like my buddies. Siya mismo nagsabi ako ay maasim kaya baka kung may napilantikan lang sa akin asim, siguro dahil may magandang tindig pa ako. (She said it herself, I’m still attractive. If someone is attracted to me, it’s probably because I still have appeal.)

The spat isn’t over, with Santiago challenging Enrile to a televised debate. Who will stop the clash of the titans? Senate President Franklin Drilon refuses to comment on the worsening word war between Senators Santiago and Enrile.

With the leadership failing to intervene, the big question is how this institution battered by the pork barrel scam and now this bitter feud will ever be able to serve the interest of dismayed taxpayers. Ayee Macaraig, Rappler, Manila.  – Rappler.com