Santiago fears expectations, mulls 2016 presidential bid

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Photo by RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—For a seemingly fearless politician, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said on Wednesday that she was frightened of the Filipino people’s expectations of her as the next president of the country.

In a press briefing during the launch of her book “Stupid is Forever,” Santiago said that she was considering the prospect of running in the 2016 elections.

“People seem to have very, very high expectations of me. It frightens even me. The person should beat all the expectations of all these young people. I am going to think about it,” Santiago said.

The senator also declared that her health was in “very stable” condition despite a recent battle with stage 4 lung cancer.

“I’m now in remission, as they say. The cancer is no longer in its original, strong state. It is now in a very weak state and I am very stable now. But still, I have to be the best of health if I will be the president of the Philippines because there are so many things to be done simultaneously,” Santiago said.

Last July, Santiago called for a press conference to announce that she had cancer.

She had publicly said she would seek the presidency if she got cured of the disease.

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