Defensor-Santiago misses attending impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was absent again at Monday’s resumption of the impeachment trial due to hypertension and said she misses attending the proceedings at the Senate.

“Over the weekend, I was normal at 120/80. This morning (Monday), my blood pressure was galactic at 140/100. At that rate, if I attend the impeachment hearings, I will soon be pushing daisies at a memorial park near you,” the senator said in her letter emailed to members of the media.

“I miss our daily banter and am desperately trying to get well. I also miss the impeachment trial punctuated by certain personalities who have all the charm of show window mannequins,’’ she said.

“But my health is not cooperating. However, I shall be happy to hear from you for phone interviews, if the questions are not about the merits of the case,” she added.

Despite her condition, Santiago said she accepted an invitation to attend the joint annual convention of the Philippine Society of Hypertension, and the Philippine Lipid and Atherosclerosis Society on Wednesday.

“If I can attend, I shall speak, not as an authority on medicine, but as a victim of old age. Call me the walking wounded. I would really like to go because I’m already prepared with my pick-up lines,” said the senator.

“I refuse to succumb to illness, because I don’t want to give my political enemies the pleasure of dancing on my grave, chortling like contented snakes. However, I shall be happy to hear from you for phone interviews, if the questions are not about the merits of the case,” she further said.