SEN. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Sunday expressed willingness to bare all transactions and funds received by his office but said that Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago should do it first.

Lacson said that Santiago should lead the way, since it was she who challenged senators to make their financial transactions public.

“She should rise above everybody else, because by issuing such a challenge you are also claiming that you have the moral ascendancy,” Lacson said in a radio interview aired over dzBB.

He added that if Santiago is really for transparency, she need not challenge her colleagues in the Senate but she should have disclosed her office’s transactions and income not only for 2012 but also in previous years.

Santiago had urged the Commission on Audit to upload together with the Civil Service Commission all information on the total income, not only the salary, but benefits, allowances and other remunerations that senators get.

She made the appeal after Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile admitted giving P2 million additional maintenance and other operating expenses to 18 senators in November and December 2012.

Each senator received P600,000 in November, including Santiago.

However, only 18 senators, excluding Santiago, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano and Antoñio Trillanes 4th, were given P1.6 million in December.

Lacson maintained that the additional expenses are also subject to Audit commission and that it is not to be used for the personal needs of lawmakers.

“What is saddening is that Santiago made a sweeping statement that put all senators in bad light. If she is angry with the Senate president, she should keep it between the two of them and not include other senators and made us look that we are all thieves,” he added.

Meanwhile, a party-list organization appealed to the 18 senators to return the amount and use it to help the poor, especially those who were devastated by recent typhoons.

The Alyansa ng Media and Showbiz claimed that the money “will be a very big help to fifth class provinces who lack school buildings and shelter.”

Veteran radio reporter Rolly Gonzalo and former newsman and the group’s third nominee, Nick Ferrer, said that classes have not resumed in typhoon-hit areas in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental for lack of tents that can be used as temporary classrooms.

Enrile also called on Santiago to limit the issue between them and spare the other senators.

The Senate president said that Santiago should file a case against him if she has evidence.

He is also willing to make public all his income as senator and even his assets as long as Santiago will also do it.