Senator using govt funds to pay maids’ salary, says Lacson

Senator Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson accused on Thursday a senator for allegedly using Senate funds to pay her maids’ salary, grocery and even the rental of a satellite office at a property owned by this legislator.

Lacson made this revelation in an radio interview, a day after his verbal tussle with Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago over the P2.2 million budget given to 18 senators in 2012.

Lacson did not name the senator he was referring to during the interview but said in a  text message that this colleague, who has been making the Senate pay for the said expenses, was one and the same.

“All I can say is, isang senador lang yung mga maids sa bahay sa Senate naka payroll, yung asawa, may grocery allowance sa Senate at yung satellite office rental, sarili niyang property,” said Lacson on radi.

” Bahala na ang COA [Commission on Audit] to pursue their audit/investigation based on those leads or information,” Lacson added.

Asked how long this senator has been making the Senate pay for her personal needs, Lacson said: “Abangan ang susunod na kabanata…”

Lacson got into a “word war” with another senator,Miriam Defensor-Santiago, after he called her a “crusading crook”. Before that Santiago called him an attack dog of Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile.

It was Enrile, who gave the 18 senators P2.2 million each last year as additional maintenance and other operating expenses.

Santiago and three others– Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, and Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV got only P600,000 each in November, 2012 but not the P1.6 million balance given to other senators in December.