Should presidential bets take IQ test? Santiago thinks so

Presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Defensor- Santiago and running mate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. meets on Wednesday their supporters at University of the Philippines Visayas in Iloilo. This is the third time they appeared together in public since the campaign launch on Feb. 9. FRANCES MANGOSING

ILOILO CITY – Presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago took a jab at her fellow candidates as she returned to the campaign trail on Wednesday after a monthlong absence.

“If it were up to me, presidential candidates would be taking an IQ test,” she said in a mix of English, Filipino and Ilonggo.

Santiago, campaigned with running mate Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for the third time since their campaign launch on Feb. 9 in her hometown in Iloilo.

The senator delivered her 13-minute speech at the University of the Philippines Visayas.

She appeared better than her first six public appearances, after taking a short break from the campaign to undergo an anticancer treatment.

“Today I ask you: Convince, persuade your parents and those nearest you to use their wits this elections,” the senator said, as she reiterated her demand for academic, professional, and moral excellence among people seeking public office,” she told the crowd, mostly college students and the youth.

Marcos’ presence was also greeted with protests. A small crowd of anti-Marcos protesters held a rally at the gate of the UP Visayas, condemning martial law during the time of his father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

“Iba ang nakaraan. Iba na ngayon,” said Santiago in her speech referring to Marcos.

The vice presidential candidate, devoted most of his 10-minute speech praising Santiago and expressing how lucky he was for being chosen as her running mate.

“Standing before you is the luckiest vice presidential candidate,” he told the crowd.

“Never I imagined I will be the running mate of someone so accomplished and with so much achievements,” he said.

Being chosen as the running mate of Santiago is probably “the greatest honor of his political career,” according to Marcos.

This statement comes despite the two rarely mention about each other when they hold separate sorties.