Fuming Lacson calls Miriam crazy, corrupt

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Friday called Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago "crazy" as he lashed back at the lady senator for hitting him again in a forum on Friday.

"Kung hindi ba sira ulo niya, una, nilinaw ko nang ilang beses na hindi ako bakla," Lacson said as he denied for the nth time that he is not gay.

At a forum with nurses at the Manila Hotel, Defensor unleashed another series of tirades against her political enemies, including one that she described as a former general who has a mind of a police sergeant.

Lacson is the only former police director general at the Senate.

"The thing is, I won't start a fight with anybody as I did not initiate this quarrel with her; neither will I turn my back," Lacson said in a text message to reporters.

He said that Santiago is mentally unstable and corrupt.

"Pangalawa, ang isyu laban sa kanya ay graft dahil ginamit niya ang pera ng bayan para ibayad sa sarili niya. Pangatlo, ang extension office ko ay nasa 5th floor din ng senate building," the former police general said.

"Hindi ako tulad niya na kurakot. Wala akong naibulsang pondo sa buong panahon na naglingkod ako sa gobyerno at hindi ako marunong tumanggap ng suhol. Eh, siya kaya?," Lacson added.

Lacson vowed that for every insult that Santiago will throw at him, he will "hit her back harder."

"If she insults me, I'll insult her back and more harshly. But I will tell the cruel truth about her if she spreads lies about me," Lacson said.

Santiago lashed out at Lacson anew without directly naming him, a strategy which has been employed by the fiery senator during public speaking engagements apparently to avoid libel suits.

Santiago brought up anew the issue on Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile's move to give out P2-million in Christmas bonuses last December. She received a P250,000 check from the Office of the Senate President, but she returned it and even went on to expose the cash gift to the media.

Santiago said she has gained enemies -- Enrile and Lacson -- whom she accused of launching attacks on her character.

She explained in a press briefing also on Friday that she had rented a 450 square-meter office space at a family-owned building because her office at the Senate building in Pasay City does not have enough space. She said she has more or less 50 staff members and volumes of legal books and materials, which justifies the rental of her satellite office.

On insinuations that she used part of her pork barrel for the construction of a cockpit arena in Pasig, Santiago admitted that her husband, Narciso, is an avid cock fighter, breeder and organizer of derby fights.

Santiago, however, said that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will not allow the use of pork barrel funds for a cockpit-- denying Lacson's claims.

Lacson said that Santiago should refrain from bringing the issue to the media and instead answer the charge before the Office of the Ombudsman.

"Makabubuting sagutin na lang niya nang matino at hindi parang luka-luka, ang graft cases niya sa ombudsman," Lacson said in a series of text messages.