‘I’ve never been false to the Filipino people,’ says Miriam on health

DAGUPAN CITY- Maintaining that she is already “back to normal,” Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Sunday said that she has never lied to the Filipino people regarding her health condition.

During the third and last government-sanctioned presidential debate here, Santiago reiterated that she was back in shape after undergoing a clinical trial for a new anti-cancer pill, which she called as a “miracle worker.”

“I have been the subject of much black propaganda concerning my health. I have never been false to the Filipino people. I have announced the state of my health. I announced having cancer. I am better now, I am telling you now,” Santiago said.

“I am back to normal because I’m on a secret pill which is not yet available in the market,” she said, adding that the pill’s only drawback was its high cost.

Santiago, in the debate’s face-off segment, was responding to the question of fellow presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who asked her, “How are you today?”

“What can I ask of you. I am facing a woman who would be president of the Republic. It’s an insult to the intellect of everybody to be asking a learned human being,” Duterte said.

During the first presidential debate in Cagayan De Oro two months ago, Duterte and Santiago also exchanged kind words to each other, which resulted in the online love team “DuRiam.”

Asked if she had already beaten the deadly disease, Santiago said she was able to stop it from spreading further.

“Hindi mo masabing natalo ko pero nahinto ko. Hindi mo ‘yan makikita sa naked eye mo. Kinakain ‘yan ang mga katabi niya. Kung tama ang gamot, mahihinto ‘yan at mamamatay. Namatay na sila,” she said.

The feisty senator added that she was willing to recommend the drug to the Bureau of Food and Drugs if it passes the global clinical trial, adding that it can be studied if the government can subsidize the expensive pill for patients who cannot afford it.

Asked if she would legalize the use of medical marijuana if she becomes president, Santiago answered no and called it a “sliding slope,” but added that she was open to being convinced otherwise.

Santiago failed to attend the second presidential debate in Cebu last month after undergoing a clinical trial.

The feisty senator made only six appearances since the campaign period started on February 9. She returned to the campaign trail on April 12 in her hometown, Iloilo City.

Santiago was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2014. Last year, she said the cancerous tumor in her left lung has regressed due to a new expensive drug she had been taking.

In a video uploaded on her Facebook page recently, Santiago thanked her supporters, particularly the youth, for their continued support and said that she has regained her health.

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