Video by INQUIRER.net’s NOY MORCOSO III
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Friday called for an end to a “vicious cycle of corruption” in the country, describing Metro Manila as the “seat of the most atrocious corruption.”
“…welcome to Metro Manila, the seat of government, the seat of glamor, bling and unfortunately, also the seat of the most atrocious corruption you’ve ever seen,” Santiago told delegates of the International Youth Leadership Conference held in Taguig City when she opened her keynote speech.
Santiago then proceeded to talk about “world-class leadership” and apparent lack of it in the country.
In the Philippines, Santiago noted politicians were running for public office not because they would want to serve but because they wanted to steal public funds.
“Kasi una, kailangan marami kang pera para manalo ka. O di mangungutang ka, e di may utang na loob ka. Pagkatapos pag nasa pwesto ka na e di nakaw ka ng nakaw para mabayaran mo ang mga pinangutang mo at mabili mo ngayon ang mga botante sa mga susunod na halalan,” she said.
(Because first, you have to have money to win. Or you will borrow, but then you’ll have to pay a debt of gratitude. When you get elected, you will steal to pay all your debts and buy the voters in the next election)
“It’s a vicious cycle of corruption, corruption, corruption. (That’s why) there should be an end to this cycle and that end can only start with you… Walang pag-asa itong mga matatanda na ito, mga sexy at mga pogi (All these old, sexy and handsome are hopeless,” the senator added, drawing laughters from the crowd.
Santiago also took a swipe at her colleagues in Congress when she discussed the characteristics of “world-class leaders.”
World-class leaders, she said, should have skills and knowledge that would set them apart from others, even those who are considered as good leaders.
“This level of achievement is the result of hard work, experience and learning,” said the senator.
“Kaya ganyan ang Kongreso natin, dahil yung mga kasapi dun hindi nila alam ang hardwork, experience and learning,” she added.
(That’s why our Congress is like that, because their members don’t know what hard work, experience and learning are)
Santiago said any person, who was “educable and willing to study and model the best can develop “world-class leadership skills.”
“That’s the problem. Many members of Congress are non-educable,” she said.
In her 10 years as professor of the University of the Philippines, Santiago said, “I have never seen a group that is so resistant to education as [the] Philippine Senate.”
Another characteristic of a world-class leader, Santiago said, was that being able to modify his or her leadership style to the requirements of the team and the situation.
“Halimbawa, nakita na natin lahat ng mga senador na nandyan, puro bago ito. Nakaw ng nakaw ng pera ng gobyerno pagkatapos pag sinumbong sila, galit pa sila…dapat ang presidente, puntahan nya yung mga senador at hamunin na lang nya ng suntukan.”
Santiago took another dig at her colleagues in the Senate when she shifted on the issue of Crimea and compared it with Kosovo.
“Naalala nyo ang Kosovo? Don’t bother if you don’t remember, many people don’t remember it especially the members of the Senate because they are suffering from dementia. Matatanda na kasi e,” she said.
RELATED STORIES
Santiago talks about selfies, dark armpit before elite La Sallites