Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.. JUNNY ROY/SENATE POOL
MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile rejected on Thursday the idea of reconciling with Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, saying it is difficult to talk to people with “lunar minds.”
“Ayoko nang batiin yung ayaw sa akin e. Mahirap makipag-usap sa mga lunar minds,” Enrile said in a radio interview, when asked if he was ready to patch things up with Santiago.
(I no longer want to patch things up with those who don’t like me. It’s difficult to talk to people with lunar minds.)
And his tirade against Santiago went on.
This time, Enrile blasted Santiago for the latter’s alleged absences in the Senate in almost half of the session days last year.
This was the reason, he said, he did not give Santiago an additional P1.6 million MOOE (maintenance and other operating expenses) in December, 2012.
Santiago was among the four senators who only received the first tranche (P600,000) of the total P2.2 million additional MOOE released to all 23 senators in November last year.
“Hindi na sila binigyan. Binigay ko na lang sa mga nagtatrabaho na senador,” Enrile said of the four senators who did not get the P1.6 million balance.
(They were not given the amount anymore. I gave it to the Senate workers.)
“ Si Miriam, hindi uma-attend sa caucus namin yan e. If you check the records…e baka kalahati ng session days e wala sya run. Maliban na lang kung gusto niyang magpasikat. Noong impeachment trial nandun palagi,” he added, referring to the impeachment trial of ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona.
(Miriam no longer attends our caucus. If you check the records…she was absent half of the session days. She shows up only when she wants to brag. During the impeachment trial she was always present.)
Aside from Santiago, the three senators who did not get the P1.6 million fund were Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, Senators Pia Cayetano and Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV.