Miriam Santiago: Opponents waiting ‘to buy me out’

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Presidential candidate Miriam Defensor Santiago basked in the “very overwhelming” reception by university students here on Friday, April 29, leading her to issue a “warning” to her opponents that she is the choice of the youth.

Her husband, former Interior Undersecretary Narciso Santiago Jr, told reporters in a chance interview that he remained optimistic that the Visayas will go for Miriam, who hails from Iloilo.

“It seems there’s a conspiracy because contributors don’t give money,” Miriam said, when asked about claims by her detractors that she is withdrawing from the race. “My opponents wait until I’m destitute and they come with an offer to buy me out.”

Miriam spoke to a crowd of about 4,000 students at the gymnasium of the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, where she also gave young people tips on how to fight corruption in government. 

Should she win in the elections, the senator vowed to prioritize Negros and Panay islands in infrastructure and agriculture projects.

Mr Santiago said that they will “continue what we’re doing now” for Miriam to catch up in the race. The senator is lagging behind her 4 rivals in pre-election surveys, but her husband cited the Veritas Truth Survey where she placed second.

It was a nationwide survey conducted by the Catholic station Radio Veritas. He said that “it is a true survey,” having been released by the bishops.

The Visayas has over 10 million voters, with 3 provinces among the 10 most vote-rich: Cebu (with 2,722,288), Negros Occidental (with 1,663,492), and Iloilo (with 1,347,514).

Aside from Santiago, other presidential candidates who trace their roots to the Visayas are Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II and Grace Poe.

Roxas’ mother Judy Araneta Roxas is from Bago City, Negros Occidental, while his late father Gerardo Roxas was from Roxas City, Capiz. 

Poe, on the other hand, traces her roots to Iloilo City, where she was abandoned when she was a baby, and to Bacolod City, where her adoptive mother, actress Susan Roces, is from. – Rappler.com