Ping: Miriam spent pork barrel on cockpit arena construction

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Thursday accused Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago of financing the construction of a cockpit arena in Pasig City with her pork barrel.

Lacson said he is scrutinizing documents over Santiago’s move to allocate part of her annual P200-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to construct a cockpit arena in Pasig City.

The senator said that he gathered documents and possible evidence that showed the cockpit arena project was “disguised” as a sports complex.

Among cockfight aficionados, it is no secret that Santiago’s husband, former Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Narciso Santiago Jr, is a cockfight hobbyist.

"I just started my investigation on her use of pork barrel [which she used under] the guise of a sports complex when it was actually a cockpit arena,”  Lacson told reporters in a phone patch interview.

“That is what I am starting to probe, I am now gathering evidence. Once it is enough, I will refer [(the case] to the Ombudsman,” Lacson said.

Lacson added that “every time [Santiago] opens her big mouth, I will gather evidence to expose her misdeeds and corrupt ways.”

This is not the first time that Lacson accused Santiago of fund misuse. The former police chief had also asked the Ombudsman to look into the possible graft charges against Santiago for using her Senate budget to rent an office space in a building owned by her family in Quezon City.

While other senators also rented additional office spaces, Lacson said Santiago’s case was unique since the contract -- P840,000 a year from 2010 to 2014 -- also showed that the building administrator is getting salaries and benefits as part of Santiago’s staff at the Senate.

'I am not gay'

Lacson launched the counter-attacks against Santiago, who made a public appearance last Tuesday after weeks of being absent at the Senate sessions.

Santiago has also threatened to expose Lacson's “sins” and "sexuality."

Lacson and Santiago’s verbal tussle intensified anew when the latter threw insinuations that her colleague may be gay.

“I am sorry to disappoint the lady senator. If she is insinuating some lunatic idea about my sexuality, let me emphasize this -- I am not gay and I do not intend to be one,” Lacson told reporters in a text message last Wednesday.

Lacson said he did not want to pick a fight with Santiago but he had to defend his honor. He also did not want the fight to again drag the Senate as an institution.

Santiago earned the ire of Lacson for referring to him as “Pinky”, a moniker used by the latter’s past enemies to insinuate that he is gay.

Lacson vowed to get back at Santiago at the weekly forum at the Senate, but he did not push through with it  because he had to go to Baguio City for the annual homecoming of the graduates of the Philippine Military Academy.

Explaining why he had to forego with the Senate media forum, Lacson said he and his wife have to leave early since his wife does not want to travel to Baguio during nighttime.

“My problem is, I am not gay, but I am ‘under the saya’,” Lacson said in jest.