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Miriam Santiago: ‘Poe has gall to insist on presidency’

Ayee Macaraig

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Miriam Santiago: ‘Poe has gall to insist on presidency’
Santiago alludes to Poe: 'Even if you have not yet proven yourself to the people, you will already have the gall to insist on being president?'

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago took a swipe at her rivals in the presidential race, hitting survey front-runner Senator Grace Poe’s inexperience and legal woes. 

Santiago used her speech at the Rizal Technological University in Pasig to crack jokes about Poe, opposition leader Vice President Jejomar Binay, and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. She left out administration candidate, former interior secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. 

The senator discussed leadership and patriotism but began by talking about each of the presidential aspirants without referring to them by name. 

The globally renowned legal luminary began with an allusion to Poe, who is running for president after only 3 years as senator, and two years as former censors chief. 

“Marami diyan na pinupuri ang sarili nila pero wala pang nagawa, gusto nang ihalalal sila bilang presidente ng Pilipinas. ‘Yun ba natutunan ninyo dito sa university na ito, na wala ka pang naipapakita sa taumbayan, ang lakas na ng loob mo mamilit na ikaw mag-presidente?” 

(There are many there who praise themselves even if they have not yet done a lot, they already want to be elected president of the Philippines. Is that what you have learned in this university, that even if you have not yet proven yourself to the people, you will already have the gall to insist on being president?) 

She then described Binay, who faces various corruption complaints and investigations over alleged kickbacks when he was Makati mayor for two decades. The Vice President is accused of owning a lavish estate in Batangas under the name of alleged dummies. 

Ang isang kandidato, ang dami niyang bukirin at mga garden sa malayong lugar. May isa pang garden na mukhang Kew Gardens sa London, Europe. Wala tayong ganoon,” Santiago said. 

(There is one candidate who has so many farms and gardens in faraway places. He even has a garden that looks like the Kew Gardens in London, Europe. We don’t have such property.)

She also made a reference to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The last to declare his candidacy, Duterte is accused of human rights abuses for his suspected links to the vigilante group Davao Death Squad. 

“May isa rin na pag tiningnan lang niya, namamatay kaagad ang tao,” Santiago said. (There is another who just looks at a person, the person already dies.) 

The multi-awarded lawmaker encouraged students to take the elections seriously, and to convince their elders about the importance of the May 2016 polls. 

“We are not engaged in entertainment for the Filipino public. We are choosing the next leader of the Philippines who will represent the Filipino in the forefront of international issues. Pwede bang sabihin nating iyon ang presidente nating ‘di nakakahiya?” (Can we say that this our president without being embarrassed?) 

She added: “Elections are not an exercise in entertainment or in humor. Elections are an exercise of the mental will to improve ourselves, and to prove to the world that the Philippines is one of the proudest people on earth and we can do it.”  

‘Poe must hasten appeal’ 

A former trial court judge, Santiago weighed in on the disqualification cases against Poe. Santiago has said that Poe is not a natural-born citizen.

Two divisions of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) cancelled Poe’s certificate of candidacy, ruling that the senator did not meet citizenship and residency requirements for the presidency. A foundling adopted by movie icons, Poe is pressed to prove that she is a natural-born Filipino.

She also needs to meet the 10-year residency requirement after studying and living in the US, and at one point becoming an American citizen. The senator erred in her 2012 candidacy papers by declaring that she would have been a resident of the Philippines for only 9 years and 6 months by the May 2016 polls.  

Santiago told reporters on Monday that while Poe can still appeal the ruling of the Comelec divisions before the whole commission and the Supreme Court, Poe must fast-track her legal moves. 

“Her problem will be that before the appeal is over, it is stated in the law that the ballots must be printed at a certain date. It is possible that before a decision is out, her name will not be included in the ballot. Her name should appear in all the ballots. Can you imagine, about 50 million ballots, so that would be a big problem.” 

Santiago said Poe should have studied and exposed her legal problems a long time ago. 

“Hindi siya dapat mananakot, kundi tama ang ginagawa niya na kung ano ang sabi ng Korte Supreme, susundin ko. Iyan ang pananalita ng tunay na leader.” 

(She should not issue threats but it’s right what she is saying that she will just follow what the Supreme Court says. Those are the words of a true leader.) 

‘Why meddle with my health?’ 

Santiago has been delivering speeches in universities, and granting media interviews to prove that she can still run for president even after announcing last year that she has stage 4 lung cancer. 

The senator reiterated that cutting-edge treatment, like that of former US President Jimmy Carter, can help improve her condition. She said though that Carter’s drug was expensive, costing about P50 million ($1.05 million). 

Santiago rebuffed critics’ statements that her health does not allow her to mount a viable campaign. 

Bakit sila makikialam sa akin? Kung sasabihin ko ‘di makinis ang mukha mo, ‘di pwede sa advertisement? Sasabihin ko bakit ako ang sasabi sa kanya ng ganun, sarili niyang mukha ‘yun eh.” 

(Why will they meddle with me? What if I tell you your face is not smooth, and not fit for an advertisement? I will say how come I should be the one to tell you that when it’s your own face we’re talking about.) 

Santiago is banking on her appeal among the youth, and strong social media presence. With her illness, she said she will campaign via social media instead of the traditional barnstorming.  

She amused the university students through her classic pick-up lines: 

  • “Pwede ba kitang makatabi ‘pag exam? Kasi I feel perfect beside you.” (Can I sit beside you in the exam? Because I feel perfect beside you.) 
  • “Tapos na ba ang exams mo? Baka pwedeng ako naman ang sagutin mo.” (Are your exams over? Maybe you can say yes to me now.)
  • “Christmas ka ba? Kasi I want to marry you.” (Are you Christmas? Because I want to marry you.)

– Rappler.com

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