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Enrile is the “grandfather” of the pork barrel scam, Senator Miriam tells reporters

November 7, 2013

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By Raïssa Robles

The Janet Lim Napoles show became a Senator Miriam Santiago show today.

The long awaited session with main pork suspect Janet Lim Napoles before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has turned out to be a dud so far.

Sometime into the proceeding Senator Miriam Santiago appeared and managed to hijack the proceedings with a lengthy tirade-cum-lecture. about the fine points of the law on a person invoking the “right to self-incrimination” compared to saying “I don’t know”. She convinced, or browbeat, Napoles into invoking the right against self-incrimination as against just saying “I don’t know”.  There’s a difference between the two responses so it will be interesting to see what the legal fallout from this will be.

As well as the merits of turning state witness – she told Napoles that the latter will be 90 years old when she gets out of jail if she is convicted of plunder.

Santiago sounded like she was equally interested in grinding her own axes and going after her political enemies while clearing up the pork barrel issue.

“Magiging kasing tanda mo na si Tanda,” Sen. Miriam warned the 50-year-old businesswoman, apparently referring to former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile – one of the lawmakers implicated in the grand theft of the pork barrel scam.

Santiago said,

“I’m not scared of Tanda.”

She also called someone else a “child molester” but I didn’t quite get the reference since my computer suddenly turned itself off.

Senator Santiago inveighed against PRs, calling them “cockroaches” and “assholes.” She clearly had specific personalities and enemies in mind.

She also mentioned three names: Jimmy Policarpio, Brian Yamsuan, and his wife Cathy. Their names are now in the official senate records. [NOTE: Personally, I knew Jimmy Policarpio, a long-time senior aide of Ernesto Maceda while the latter was in the Senate.]

Two of the newbie senators – Sonny Angara and JV Ejercito – tried hard not to laugh at Santiago’s sound bites.

Senator Santiago topped all her controversial statements during an impromptu press conference with reporters when she referred to one colleague in the Senate as the “grandfather” of the pork barrel scam.

When one reporter asked her to clarify whether Santiago was referring to Enrile,

Santiago replied:

“He is.”

Santiago added:

“Who put that iron in her (Napoles) spine? Sinong nagpatigas ng loob niya? That is the question. Si Enrile. Yun yon. Senate President siya noon pang  panahon na yon (when the questionable pork barrel was disbursed to Napoles’ NGOs). Kayang kaya niya.

His paternity is unquestioned. His DNA has been confirmed.”

Enrile did not attend today’s public hearing. The Senate is in recess this week.

Here are some more choice news bites from Senator Santiago:

Referring to herself, Santiago noted:

“Kinukutya ako dahil sinabi ko only court can grant immunity,yan ang problema sa tao di nagtapos ng college, maglecture sa abogada!”

She launched another broadside:

“Ignorance can be treated but stupidity is forever.”

At the start of her questioning, Santiago assured Napoles – much like a cat purring at a mouse caught in its claws:

“I won’t bully you, I won’t out-shout you.Pag magsinungaling ka, lagot ka. Nagsumpa ka e.”

When Napoles refused to answer  her question saying “I do not know,”  Santiago told her:

“Ano ka ngayon? Naka-dedma ka sa akin? Pano tayo aabot sa katotohanan?”

She cautioned Napoles:

“Pag lahat ng tinanong ‘I invoke my right’, sa isip ng publiko may tinatago ka.”

Sen. Santiago asked Napoles when she became wealthy after leaving her home province of Basilan. Napoles replied:

“I invoke my right against self incrimination.”

Senator Santiago advised Napoles:

“Tell the truth before the senators affected will have you assassinated.”

Later, Sen. Santiago told a swarm of reporters that Napoles was “not the most guilty…[the] most guilty is a group of public officials, either senators or cabinet members or both.”

When a blogger asked the senator a question, Santiago immediately fired off a rapid set of questions:

Ang blogger ba may hanapbuhay ba o wala? Does anyone pay you people? You have to have advertisers, right?

My take on Sen. Miriam. She might be temperamental, erratic, even hysterical, but being obnoxious is a gift and a powerful weapon that has its uses. The Senate will never be the same without her.

Tagged With: Janet Lim-Napoles, pork barrel scam, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, Senator Miriam Santiago

Comments

  1. Kamison says

    February 4, 2014 at 7:15 PM

    Miriam to DOJ: Probe Enrile, ex-chief of staff on P5.1-B projects in Cagayan
    By: Ernie Reyes, InterAksyon com
    February 4, 2014 12:06 PM

    MANILA — Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Tuesday asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile and his former chief of staff, Atty. Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, and her family in the disbursement of P5.101 billion in public funds for Port Irene in Cagayan Province, Enrile’s home province.

    In her letter to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima dated 4 February 2014, Santiago said that “Enrile was able to insert this humongous amount in the budget of the Cagayan Freeport for the last five years.”

    Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/80065/miriam-to-doj-probe-enrile-ex-chief-of-staff-on-p5-1-b-projects-in-cagayan

  2. Kamison says

    February 4, 2014 at 7:14 PM

    Erap’s ex-aide, Ruby Tuason, to testify?

    by Aries Rufo
    Posted on 02/04/2014 4:11 AM
    Updated 02/04/2014 4:46 PM

    MANILA, Philippines – Ruby Tuason knows a lot of secrets. The former social secretary of former president Joseph Estrada, she is said to be under pressure from family members to turn herself in.

    She faces two plunder charges – one for the pork barrel scam and the other for the Malampaya Fund scam where she supposedly got the biggest windfall with P242 million. With these charges before the Ombudsman, the prospects of Tuason being extradited is not far-fetched. Corruption is an extraditable offense.

    Should Tuason decide to tell what she knows, Levito Baligod, lawyer for whistleblowers in the pork barrel scam, said it would be an important testimony.

    Baligod said, “Her testimony [can be] enough to pin down the three,” referring to senators Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, and his chief of staff Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes.

    Source: http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/49620-erap-ruby-tuason-testify

  3. Kamison says

    December 6, 2013 at 7:07 AM

    Whistleblowers of a different kind (kickbacks)

    “… getting advance information on specific projects that have been approved for funding.” – Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said.

    DBM ‘Xerox gang’ out to get Saro info–Abad
    By Michael Lim Ubac, Michelle V. Remo
    Philippine Daily Inquirer
    2:29 am | Friday, December 6th, 2013

    The people behind the photocopying of original special allotment release orders (Saros) could be interested in getting advance information on specific projects that have been approved for funding, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said on Thursday.

    A Saro is a document issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to indicate that a project has been approved and that funds shall be released for it.

    Abad said the advance information was probably used by people behind the scheme to alert those in concerned government positions to start looking for contractors they can strike a deal with for potential kickbacks.

    Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/541263/dbm-xerox-gang-out-to-get-saro-info-abad

    —

    – http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/540483/xerox-gang-in-dbm-bared
    – http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/539755/zamboanga-city%E2%80%A6e-of-fake-saro

  4. jorge bernas says

    November 30, 2013 at 12:42 PM

    Bakit hindi na freezes ang bank accnt.nang mga unang nakasuhan nang plunders cases tulad ni tanda, pogi at sexy? nakapagtatataka? o natatatakot ba silang gawing yon sa tatlo senadores? mas malaki ang kaso sa kanila kumpara sa 2nd batch na nakasuhan? At ngayong itong pangalawang batches nang congressmen at chief of staffs ay freezes kaagad mga bank accnts. nila kahit medyo mahina lang sa plunders ang kaso, marversation of public funds lang yata? Nakapagtataka talaga? BAKIT si pacquiao freeze kaagad kahit 1.1 million lang mahigit ang laman nang pera sa banko, Bakit? Sana gawin ninyong parehas ang laban? at huwag maging selective sa mga mahihina? at patulan na rin kahit malalakas na senadores? o baka hinihintay pa ninyong wala nang laman mga banko nila bago ninyo e freezes? nakakapagdududa talaga? sana gawin nalang nang tama ang trabaho para patas sa lahat…

  5. leona says

    November 27, 2013 at 4:13 PM

    Heard a part of JPE’s ‘washing’ Meriam in the Senate Hall today Nov. 26/13.

    Senate now is also a ‘Washing Machine’ for senators’ ‘stained clothes’! More bleachings and soapings to come on this. But the clothes will never be dried. Always WET and WILD.

  6. Kamison says

    November 21, 2013 at 8:08 PM

    I
    “JPE slams report tagging him as pork scam ‘mastermind'”, but remains coy at “Santiago dares Enrile to commit hara-kiri over SC ruling on PDAF”

    – http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/21/13/jpe-slams-report-tagging-him-pork-scam-mastermind

    – http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/530389/santiago-dares-enrile-to-commit-hara-kiri-over-sc-ruling-on-pdaf

    – http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/blogs/opinions/11/07/13/enrile-grandfather-pork-barrel-scam-senator-miriam-tells-reporters

    II

    JPE, A Willy-nilly Fall Guy (Senator)?

    A seasoned politician, publicity operator, a lawyer and a good communicator (compared with Bong ‘pogi’ R, Jinggoy ‘Sexy’ E). ‘Tanda’ is more adept to parlay on the unconstitutionality of PDAF, pork rorts to commissions, and upcoming Sandiganbayan Criminal charges. To take Head-on the public opinion against the embattled 3 Senators.

    A stand-out, target Rabbit with unlimited hat tricks up his sleeves!

    High time to expose the clown? Just as it was ex CJ R Corona 2 years ago.

    Could it be the Senate ex-President’s time? Self-made empire to bust!

  7. Kamison says

    November 21, 2013 at 7:29 PM

    Primer for a compromise?

    Napoles should admit guilt first—De Lima
    By Tetch Torres-Tupas

    INQUIRER.net
    6:51 pm | Thursday, November 21st, 2013

    MANILA, Philippines—Principal accused in the pork barrel scam Janet Lim-Napoles should admit her guilt first before the government considers her as state witness, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Thursday.

    “JLN (Janet Lim-Napoles) should first admit her participation in the criminal conspiracy before we can ever consider her as state witness,” De Lima said in a text message to reporters.

    “She has not done so. We all saw her stance during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing,” she said.

    Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago wants Napoles to become State Witness and identify the government officials manipulating the use of the pork barrel fund.

    Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/532173/napoles-should-admit-guilt-first-de-lima#ixzz2lHJj6Bfc

  8. ed celis says

    November 11, 2013 at 6:06 AM

    Executive Order has been used by former presidents, why can’t Pres. Pinoy use it now to expedite justice for all, fight corruption and jail all these thieves disguised as public servants. I think he used it once during the time of thief justice Corona but was repelled. Just a thought, maybe CPMer’s can educate me on this. salamat…

  9. Johnny Lin says

    November 10, 2013 at 1:30 AM

    Laughter is the best medicine.

    In times of tragedy, a smile will cure all maladies and discomfort.

    The true story behind the merger of China Bank owned by Fu and BDO owned by Sy. After the merger they thought of naming the two banks under one name, FUSY Bank but the world bank association protested because of vulgarity. This is another story,

    Here is the true story of the merger.: are you smarter than this grade school graduate we will call Dad.

    One day his son who is a bank branch manager at China Bank told him he is going to get married to Tess. Since the son is the breadwinner in the family, Dad said no to him. But he said, your future daughter in law is the child of the richest man in the Philippines. I want you to go to him and ask for her hand. Dad went to SM and talked to Henry. My son wants to marry your daughter, could I get your acceptance? Henry said no but Dad said: he is the CEO of China bank and you could use him taking over I the bank to merge with BDO. Henry consented.

    Afterwards, Dad went to Mr Fu and told him to appoint his son as CEO of his bank. Fu declined the request but Dad said:he is going to marry the only child of the richest man in the Philippines, imagine the large deposits to be transferred to your bank. Mr. Fu relented and appointed the son CEO. The rest is happily ever after for the Dad.

    Speaking of being smart or intelligent. Compare these two students. One graduated as honor student from Ateneo while Juan was educated in the street finishing only at the mataas na paaralan in Juan Sumulong (Juan Sumulong high school).

    They were final contestants in Pilipinas Jeopardy with a million peso prize money hosted by Kris Aquino
    during the final round, the champion is not the the one who gives the best answer first but the best 2 answers out of 3 questions in one category only which is about women.

    Kris started asking the question:
    Kris: what do you call the problem of pregnant women in their butt which bleeds easily on straining or with constipation?
    One answered: Hemorrhoids
    Juan answered: Assteroid.

    Kris said: Juan you are wrong. Asteroid is from the sky while hemorrhoid is the correct answer.
    Juan complained and asked Kris: where do you get that rhoid?
    Kris answered:in the butt.
    Juan replied: exactly, butt to you Ass to us in the street so Assteroid.
    Kris said. Ok accepted.

    Next question, Kris: what is the common name of the oral infection you get from women when they develop white vaginal discharge, medically it is known as Moniliasis and spell it.
    One: Thrush- T H R U S h
    Juan: Trash – T H R A S H
    Kris: One is correct but Juan your spelling is wrong.
    Juan complained again: One might be referring to his wife or girlfriend but I am not married and I only get it from thrashed prostitutes

    Kris: Ayyy, kadiri pero Bongga, I learn something new everyday. Ok, you are both winners.

  10. Johnny Lin says

    November 9, 2013 at 10:41 PM

    Prayers for victims of Cyclone Haiyan or typhoon Yolanda and for the safety and fast recovery of others affected by tragedy. Filipinos are resilient. We will overcome with bayanihan spirit. Let us all contribute in kind for the victims any way one can.

    The lighter side of Napoles scam:

    Janet Lim claimed her Chinese lawyer was still out of the country that’s why she did not have representation in her senate hearing. My lawyer is coming, she said; name is Hai Yan

    Tanda, Pogi and Sexy are thankful to Yolanda that their names suddenly disappeared from headlines – Haiyan kasi

    Jinggoy pictured watching TV in LA on Napoles hearing. When asked for comment on what he thinks of her senate appearance, he answered: Haiyaan na.

    Tanda claims vengeance from Gigi who returned with another name, Yolanda.

    He he he

    • capybara says

      November 10, 2013 at 10:50 AM

      Johnny, you reserved the best at the last

    • Kamison says

      November 10, 2013 at 1:03 PM

      – 4 more typhoons to go? (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/518673/4-more-storms-forecast-to-hit-ph-until-december)

      next batch of Gng DOJ de Lima complaints to Ombudsman are just malversation(s) crim complaints.

      tanung sa lahat, will d gov’t put weight or leverage on JLN to spill the beans?

      kung puro ‘I don’t remember’ or ‘I don’t know’, the litmus test has been cast – JLN is a hostile witness to gov’t.

      throw her to the dogs.

  11. baycas says

    November 9, 2013 at 5:44 PM

    Typhoon Haiyan: The storm after the mum…

    http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2013/11/typhoon_haiyan.html

    • drill down says

      November 10, 2013 at 7:40 AM

      what do the crazy bishops think this punishment is for this time?

      • curveball says

        November 10, 2013 at 8:37 AM

        @drill down,

        Oo nga nuon ang bilis nilang magsabi na galit ang nasa itaas dahil sa mya Yes votes sa RH Bill.

        Ngayon kaya ano ang masasabi nila at duon nagsimula ang Buhay/Patay at ang wrath of God?

        Parusa din kaya sa kanila ito dahil sa mabilis silang maghusga?

        O tapik sa kanilang mga balikat kasi iba ang inaatupag nila imbes ang tulungan, gabayan (pang spirituwal) ang mga katoliko?

        Mga kaparian: Ano naman po ang “Basa” ninyo sa nangyayari na ito?

« Older Comments

Trackbacks

  1. Philippines: ‘Pork Barrel Queen’ Senate Appearance a Dud · Global Voices says:
    November 9, 2013 at 11:04 PM

    […] if the hearing was hijacked by anyone else but Ms Napoles, it was Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago who grabbed most attention […]

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist Then they came fof the Trade Unionists, and I did not out speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me— And there was no one left to speak for me. —Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)

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