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.