Santiago: Corruption in gov’t must stop

SENATOR Miriam Defensor-Santiago wants an end to corruption in government.

That was her battle cry when she faced her supporters during a greet and meet at the University of the Philippines’ Bahay ng Alumni in Quezon City on Monday.

Santiago, in a five-minute impromptu speech, introduced herself as “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) wishes of that person …” she said.

The senator did not elaborate though she earlier answered in the media a request by Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio to release to the public her medical records. “Because if you did not receive a miracle, there is a great probability that you will not survive your 6-year term—should you win,” Claudio wrote.

READ: Santiago refuses doc’s request to release her medical records

Santiago, in her speech, admitted that “cancer is not an easy disease to have.”

“And still thereafter, I decided after consultation with panels of doctors from St. Luke’s hospital that it should be up to me to decide whether or not I should campaign for president again,” she said.

“My answer is this: Do you want a clean government? Do you want a courageous government? Do you want a government of by and for academic excellence?” the senator asked the crowd, who answered yes on all her questions.

“If that’s the case, do you want me to run…” said the senator but she was immediately interrupted by a “yes” answer of her supporters followed by a loud chanting of her name.

Santiago then talked about the problems of the country, especially the unabated corruption perpetrated by government officials themselves.

“Alam mo napansin ko sa Senado hindi naman pala mahirap na ipunin ang pera ng gobyerno. Ang problema lang sa bansa nating ito ay una ang nagsasalita yun din ang magnanakaw,” she said.

(You know, I noticed in the Senate, it’s not that difficult to save the government’s money. The only problem in our country is that those who speak [ against corruption] are also the ones who steal our money.)

“Pangalawa, pag nagsasalita sila kunwari laban sila sa graft and corruption, maling-mali pa ang English nila. At pangatlo, ninanakaw nila ang pera ng gobyerno para ’pag nakuha nila lahat ng pera, ibibili nila ulit nila ng boto ng taong bayan at sa ganoong paraan, wala nang katapusan ang pagnakaw ng ating pera. This must stop,’” Santiago stressed.

Still, the senator said she would continue to try her best to change the country.

When somebody from the crowd shouted that they are with her, the senator answered: “Kasama mo ako? Hindi mo lang alam ang ugali ko,” and then laughed at her own remarks.

In the end, Santiago thanked her supporters for “becoming the captain of your soul.”