Miriam confident of hurdling grueling campaign

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago is all set for her presidential campaign and says she can handle the physical requirements despite her health condition.

Speaking with reporters at the Technical Vocational Education and Training Congress in Taguig City yesterday, Santiago said she was doing very well after “advanced cancer medication.”

Santiago announced last year that she had stage-four lung cancer. She, however, has maintained that the growth of the cancer cells has been arrested and that she is healthy enough to run for president.

“People are not aware of it and I’m glad that I have been given an opportunity to make people know that the situation has changed completely. In effect, nobody dies from cancer anymore,” she said.

“Every month there are a dozen new medications. The only problem with these new medicine is that they are very, very expensive,” she added.

Santiago admitted that she would be counting on her supporters to help her cover the cost of the medicine with their contributions to her campaign.

“So long as my contributors will be able to help me survive, I’ll be able to finish the campaign and even win it,” she said.

This would be Santiago’s third attempt at the presidency and just like before, she would be running under her own People’s Reform Party. Her vice presidential candidate is Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Earlier, Sylvia Estrada-Claudio, a physician, wrote an open letter to Santiago urging her to release her medical records to the public, so that they would be able to see if she is really well.

Santiago has turned down the challenge, citing her right to privacy. She maintained she is fit to run for president and to undergo the rigorous campaign that goes with it.

“If you mean by vigorous physical campaign engaging in battle by means of boxing or wrestling, I’m ready for that too because my father was a martial arts (enthusiast),” she said.

“But I think the better way of testing the capability of presidential candidates is not the strength of their machinery or their organization but the strength of their brains when they appear on TV and they answer questions that are not given beforehand.

“That is the problem with these so-called debates, the questions are given in advance so all the candidates do is really to read prearranged answers,” she added.

Santiago also filed Senate Bill 2997, which prohibits the use of public funds for publicity or propaganda unless authorized by law.