Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. FILE PHOTO/SENATE POOL
MANILA, Philippines—Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Thursday branded her enemies “mongoloids” and challenged them to a fistfight.
“I tell all my enemies who just want to get of me, stop molesting me, you mongoloids!” Santiago said at a regular forum in the Senate.
She added the recent call for her to step down from the Senate in preparation for her taking up post at the International Criminal Court, was masterminded by the same person who she claimed started a black propaganda against her during the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.
She also claimed that a person, who she did not identify, was also behind this. Santiago said that this person was the same group who filed a petition calling for the revocation of Santiago’s appointment to the ICC, citing her alleged “mental instability.”
“Hindi pa nga ako nakaka-upo, papaalisin na ako (I haven’t taken the appointement and they want me out already),” Santiago said.
Earlier, Commission on Elections Chairperson Sixto Brillantes asked Santiago to resign so they will be able to determine how many vacancies there will be in the Senate in time for the 2013 elections next year.
Santiago said she is friends with Brillantes but said it is possible that the Comelec commissioner is being pressured by her political enemies.
Santiago added some people are calling for her resignation to give way to senatorial wannabes who have a very low chance of winning.
“Kagagawan ito nang mga taong gustong maging senador pero alanganin sila. Gusto nilang umalis ako ng maaga pa (This is a plot of people who aspire to be senator but know they couldn’t. They want me to leave early)… I was one of the top winners of the last elections. They want to pick a winner out to give way to these losers,” Santiago said.
Fistfight
“Kung gusto nila suntukan na lang, wala naman akong ginagawang masama a (If they want a fistfight, I’ll give them what they want),” she added.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile earlier hinted why Santiago should step down saying that there are issues and treaties that need the decision of 24 senators. He cited the last impeachment trial of Corona wherein there were only 23 senators and it was automatically a vote less in favor of the accused.
However, Santiago said that there will be no problems with only having 23 senators since the Senate needs 2/3 vote to make a decision.
She added there is no legal basis for the request for her to step down in office.
Santiago also reiterated that there is no need for her to resign since she is still waiting for the ICC to call her to duty and that she requested she may still be able to finish her term by 2016.
Originally posted at 11:15 am | Thursday, July 12, 2012