Santiago: Enrile mad at me for my strong position in favor of RH bill

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senator  Miriam Defensor-Santiago felt that she was being  singled out by Senate President  Juan Ponce-Enrile because of  her refusal to follow the latter’s wishes.

Santiago said Enrile was angry at her and  Senator Pia Cayetano  because of their strong position  in favor of the  Reproductive  Health  Bill.

“Galit sya sa aming dalawa dahil pro-RH kami. Gusto nya diktahan nya kami dahil sa tingin nya, Senate President  sya, sya ang masusunod (He’s mad at us because we are pro-RH. He wants to dictate on us because he thinks, he is the Senate President and we should follow him),” she said in a television interview .

“Wala namang ganung regulasyon e.  Meron naman kaming freedom of conscience sa Senado (But there is no such rules. We have a freedom of conscience in the Senate),”  she said.

Santiago said it has been Enrile’s attitude  even before that  those who  are younger than him should follow him.

“Lalo ako pinag-iinitan nya ako  dahil may ugali ako na kung tungkol sa international law at constitutional law, tatayo at tatayo ako sang-ayon man ako o hindi sa kanino mang senador…(Specially me.  He  is singling me out because  I really stand up  when we talk about  international law and  constitutional law – whether  or not  I agree with any of the senators)” she said.

Santiago explained  that there is now an “era of  specialization”  in the Senate  and  the  controversial  RH bill and  sin tax bill issues are her specialties.

“Yan ang mga specialties ko. Ayaw nya na tatayo ako at iko-correct sya. Yun ang talagang sinasama ng loob nya (These are my specialties.  He doesn’t like it when  I stand up and correct him.  That’s  the real reason  why he is mad at me),”  she pointed out.