Miriam-Enrile verbal tussle will damage Senate - analyst

MANILA, Philippines - A political analyst believes that the heated verbal strife between Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Juan Ponce Enrile will affect the image of the upper chamber.

University of the Philippines (UP) political science professor Clarita Carlos said the feud on the Senate floor between the two rivals will result in an "institutional damage" and will pull down the public perception on the Senate.

Carlos said senators are elected to legislate and not to entertain.

She noted that the term "Senate" comes from the latin word "senatus" which means "council of elders" and is related to wisdom.

"Parang itong dalawang University of the Philippines graduate na ito ay nakakalungkot ay parang hindi nagpakita ng wisdom kahapon," Carlos said in an interview over radio dzMM.

In a privilege speech on Wednesday, Santiago retaliated against Enrile's "personal attacks" last week, accusing him once again as the mastermind of the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

Santiago also called Enrile a "psychopathic hypersexualized serial womanizer" and a king of smuggling, gambling and illegal logging.

Last week, Enrile attacked Santiago also in a privilege speech. The former Senate president called his rival an "obsessive hater" and questioned her mental capacity.

Like Carlos, some senators are also saddened by the quarrel between Santiago and Enrile, which was even highlighted in the media.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said they will look into the words used by Santiago in her speech yesterday while Senate Majority leader Alan Cayetano will push for the creation of a Code of Ethic for the Upper House.

Both appealed for a ceasefire between Enrile and Santiago in time for Christmas.

"Siguro naman ngayon po ay nailabas na ang init ng ulo, baka sakali after a little while, mapakiusapan ang dalawa na ceasfire na muna. Pasko naman ngayon, kalma na muna. Hindi rin naman tanggap ng bayan ang ganyang mga away away, lalo na sa panahon ngayon," Drilon said in an interview with radio dzRH.

"Alam nilang mas importante ngayon 'yung reconstruction ng mga lugar na tinamaan ng bagyo, man-made disaster," Cayetano told radio dzMM. "Parating na rin ang Pasko at ugali nating mga Pilipino na we forget all of the negative."

Senator Serge Osmeña said the verbal exchanges must be tolerated and that order and decorum should be observed on the Senate floor.

"I hope they will behave in a more gentlemanly and lady-like manner, befitting the dignity of an institution like the Philippine Senate," Osmeña said.

He agreed that the feud between his colleagues is hurting the image of the Senate.

"I still worry that if somebody is reading this transcript 30 years from now, I would not be proud of it," he said.

"Baka basahin ng mga apo ko 'yun, kung buhay pa ako noon, baka sabihin nila sa akin, 'Lolo, did this really happened?" I will be embarrassed to say yes. It's unfortunate," Osmeña added.

Senator Chiz Escudero said it is saddening that two of their colleagues are throwing accusations and personal attacks against each other.

"I don't think any member of the Senate would want that to happen to any other his or her fellow member," he said.