Miriam and Neil – fire and water

Have you noticed that two Ilonggos are now “starring” in impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona? The prosecution, consisting of members of the House of Representatives, is headed by Ilonggo Congressmen Neil Tupas, and very prominent and audible among the Senator-Judges is Ilongga Miriam Defensor Santiago. I wonder which one gets the most cheers from their kababayans in Iloilo.

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La Senadora, who expressed her dislike at being addressed as a “lady senator” to the Senate President and head of the impeachment court, Juan Ponce Enrile, told him it sounded like “baby senator”. She did not object when he said she would be addressed henceforth as “woman senator.” I was a bit apprehensive that he could suggest
“female senator”, but JPE is too diplomatic for that.

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The Tagalog-speaking sector is delighted that many of those starring in the trial are shifting to Tagalog now and then. But those who speak up still speak mostly in English, careful, I believe, not to slip on translations of legal terms in Latin, or even in English that may not have literal translations in Tagalog. I wonder if some purists among them will become too literal and refer to chairs or seats as the “salumpuwit” that our Tagalog teachers taught us in school, long ago. By the way, Ilonggo watchers yesterday must have noted how Santiago slipped in her Tagalog when she said “Hindi na kinahanglan…”

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But although they are both Ilonggos, a group in the Visayas known for their gentle manner of expressing themselves, and referred to as “malambing” by non-Ilonggos, the term surely does not apply to Senator Santiago. She and Rep. Tupas are as different from each other as fire and water. With La Miriam always combative, bombastic and a virtual spitfire. Tupas, on the other hand, is cool, soft-spoken, but, in his own way, also dogged. I think someone should send the international Criminal Court a video of the proceedings so the other members can be prepared for what they may encounter in their own hearings with Miriam.

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Just as cool and unperturbed was the head of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Kim Henares, who remained unruffled as she sat on the witness chair to answer questions on the tax records of the Corona couple. A brief haggle ensued before she could be sworn in, as the defense, probably knowing how damaging the information she brought could be, tried all tricks to prevent her from testifying. Fortunately, the call was too important, and the senate court had to allow her to be questioned – on certain conditions – which she faithfully complied with.

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Although she disclosed what were contained in the BR records calmly and confidently. Henares, probably inadvertently, exploded some of the most shocking revelations about the financial practices of the Corona couple, both of whom were occupying very important and very highly paid positions in the past administration. The watching public heard that, despite the big amounts they had been raking in from salaries and other perks, they had not filed income tax reports for several years!

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Oh what a tangled web it is, indeed. No proper taxes paid, and no known other sources of income to justify the acquisition of property costing several millions in various areas of Metro Manila, among them the most expensive condominiums in the plushiest places? From what had been revelaed, it looks as if the only share the government, through the BIR, had from all those millions was only the measly amount withheld as required. But defense lawyer Serafin Cuevas still seemed to be smirking at times, so it will be very interesting to see what he has got to say today.

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In the meantime, doctors from the Veterans Memorial Medical Center are saying that former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is already well enough to leave the hospital and the Commission on Election is seeking her removal to an ordinary detention facility. Where will that be? In the same building as former Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos, maybe? And how many troops and policemen and facilities will be mobilized for the move, and how much will it cost the country?*

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