Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago is determined to join the presidential race in the 2016 elections despite speculations about her health.
The 70-year-old senator formally announced her bid for presidency in an assembly held at UP Bahay Ng Alumni last night, October 26.
Senator Miriam said, “I have passed through the hardest of physical trepidations and hardships known to man.
“Cancer is not an easy disease to have.
“And still, thereafter, I decided upon consultation with my doctors at St. Luke's [Medical Center] that it should be up to me to decide on whether or not I should campaign for president again.”
HEALTH ISSUE. It can be recalled that Senator Miriam was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer last year.
But months before she confirmed her decision to join the presidential race, Senator Miriam released a statement saying that the cancer growth in her left lung has been controlled.
Back to her speech at Bahay Ng Alumni, the senator stressed that it’s up to the Filipino people whether or not they would vote for her in the 2016 elections.
Although she didn’t exactly name names, Senator Miriam took a swipe at a certain Dr. Sylvia Claudio who called on the former to release her medical records to prove that she is clear of cancer.
“I am the person who is seeking to run for public office next year.
“But because of this, at least one person in the Internet had voiced her urgent wish that I should die before six years.
“It’s up to you whether to accommodate the macabre wishes of that person,” the senator maintained.
ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN. Senator Miriam also proclaimed her vow to fight corruption in the Philippines under her leadership.
"Do you want a clean government? Do you want a courageous government?
“Do you want a government of by and for academic excellence? If that is the case, do you want me,” she asked the audience, who answered with a resounding “Yes!”
Despite the odds, Senator Miriam reiterated that she will do whatever it takes to pursue her anti-corruption campaign.
She further observed, “Napansin ko sa Senado, hindi mahirap ipunin ang pera ng gobyerno.
“Ang problema sa bansa natin, ang nagsasalita, yun din magnanakaw.
“Nagsasalita sila laban sa graft and corruption, mali pa Ingles nila.
“Ninanakaw nila ang pera ng gobyerno.
“This must stop!
“Kaya susubukan ko lahat ng magagawa ko kahit matanda na ako.”