Miriam vs. Enrile, Lacson

MIRIAM Santiago is not one of my most favorite senators but I must admit that I admire her for her courage to expose Senator Enrile for what he really is, a crook. I like to quote here her very own Tagalog words, which she hurled at Enrile. This is a translation in English. ‘He immensely benefited during martial law. He was Marcos’ right hand, he was Marcos’ martial law administrator.’ He should now answer for the crime of plunder. ‘Why is he so rich?’ He should answer for the crime of causing the disappearance of people. ‘He was the defense minister, so he should answer for it.’

On Enrile’s part in Edsa: ‘He wanted to remove Marcos because he thought he would replace him. As it turned out, the people wanted Cory. At first he feigned friendship with her. Later, it turned out he was financing the coup d’ etat against her. That was why he was booted out of office.’

On Enrile’s ambush in Wack Wack: ‘That old man should stop it. During martial law, he said he was ambushed. During Cory’s time he said the ambush was fake. Then today in his autobiography he says again his ambush was real. What kind of person is that?’

We may not forget the past, more so when it concerns people who are now sitting in the Senate and are called Honorable Senators.

Ping Lacson is another Senator whom we should watch. Lacson, a close ally of Enrile, was quick to come to the defense of Enrile. He fired back at Miriam: ‘She is a crusading crook. She is a hypocrite par excellence who doesn’t have a single shred of integrity in her veins and moral ascendancy over any mortal on earth. Ask people who have fallen victim to her verbal threats and assaults and they will tell you how much they shelled out (for her to stop).’

Look who is talking here! He has the gall to throw these insulting words at Miriam. Was he not the police superintendent under Erap who gave orders for the Kuratong Baleleng rub-out? He was a fugitive from the law until he felt safe again to come back and resume his office in the Senate. Sooner or later, the law must go after him. He still has to answer for the crime of murder.

The Inquirer of Jan. 22 reports that Enrile offered the other Senators to step aside as Senate President. A political analyst called Enrile’s move a ‘masterstroke’ to redeem himself from being portrayed as a ‘liar’ and ‘traitor’ and the Senate itself as a ‘house of thieves’. The majority of the Senators voted in favor of Enrile and rejected his bid to quit. Now the Senate still remains a ‘house of thieves’.

Should we take all this theatrics sitting down and do nothing about it? Why don’t we follow the ‘straight path’ of Noynoy and use our people power to force these crooks out of the Senate, if they themselves don’t have the decency to resign from their office?

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