“If we in the Senate fail to convince our colleagues in the House, then we are a sinking ship and we will go down with this political Titanic.” – Senator Miram Defensor Santiago There were two solons who stood out the most in the joint session who showed passion, intelligence, and the moral zest for justice. The first was Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago who delivered one hell of a rebuttal to Martial Law. I have to say that she was pretty much flawless in her delivery and I pray that she wins for re-election because she is definitely a gem in the Senate. Here’s her full...

I just found out that the government is actually making a killing out of the cash donations that are pouring in for the Ondoy relief operations. In a Senate hearing spearheaded by veteran lawmaker and fiery Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, BIR Commissioner Sixto Esquivias IV explained that donations made to the private sector are subject to tax based on the Tariffs and Customs Code. The commissioner didn’t say how much percentage the government actually gets from the cash donations. Even if we assume that it’s just around 5%, the government stands to make a a lot of moolah just on...

I remember long ago my late grandfather, Senator Blas F. Ople, told me that one of his favorite senators is Miriam Santiago. When I asked him why, he told me that Miriam “spiced” up the floor. This was echoed as well by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero in our blogger coffee session event. Well… it looks like they hit the mark on that one. In her speech this afternoon about the informercials of cabinet members and senators, she literally unleashed the fury of hell, even calling them “thick-skinned, dimwitted rhinoceros”. Her first victim was TESDA Secretary...