Santiago: ‘I’ll never quit; God preserve PH, let it begin with me’

DAGUPAN CITY–“I will never quit. I will never stop. I will never withdraw.”

These were the words of presidential aspirant Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago at the close of the third and last government-sanctioned presidential debate at the University of Pangasinan in this city, amid alleged black propaganda that she could not lead the country because of cancer.

“I have already shown you that I am what I am now, I am what I was today and what I will be tomorrow,” Santiago told the audience at the university’s student plaza, reiterating that she was “back to normal” after undergoing a clinical trial for a new anti-cancer pill.

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.

“We are all united in this endeavor to improve and reform the Philippines. Akala ng iba hanggang dito na lang tayo. Hindi. Lalabanan natin itong corruption na naging bunga at sanhi ng ating kahirapan,” she said. “For those who think that I should withdraw, I am now normal. I can think and I can act and I can pray. I will never quit, I will never stop. I will never withdraw.”

Trumpeting her achievements in government service, Santiago said the country’s next president should have academic excellence, professional excellence, and moral excellence.

“Academic excellence–ako may doctorate ako on judicial science from America, saka valedictorian ako ng lahat ng klase ko. Pangalawa, professional excellence. Binigyan ako ng prestigious Magsaysay award for government for ‘bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a corrupt government agency.’ Meron ba silang ganun?” Santiago said.

“Third, moral excellence, which is the most important. Unfortunately, there is no machine that you can attach to a human being that will help you tell if that person is honest or not. Maaaring bolero lang. Maaaring magaan ang bibig,” she added.

The feisty senator, who also ran for president in 1992 and 1998, urged voters to elect a leader with “international stature” who would best represent the country in global affairs.

“We are not looking for an ordinary leader, or an ordinary messenger. We are looking for the president of the Philippines, so I think the first qualification is international stature that would be a great help to Philippine foreign and diplomatic policy,” Santiago said.

“Kaya pag-isipan n’yong mabuti itong ginagawa natin. Pipili tayo ng ating magiging leader sa susunod na anim na taon. Hindi tayo pwedeng maimili na base lang sa kursonada, o kung ano ang uso sa mga gang ninyo o mga tribes ninyo. We all want to change the world for the better…God preserve this country, and let it begin with me,” she added.