DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines—Presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said private armies should be abolished to achieve lasting peace in the conflict-stricken Mindanao.
“Una, we will dismantle the private armies na kaiba sa AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines). ‘Yan galing sa isang politiko dyan na maraming ninakaw na pera sa gobyerno. Di madisiplina kasi sabi nila nakakatulong naman daw sila gobyerno,” Santiago said during the third and last presidential debate here on Sunday.
(First, we will dismantle the private armies different from AFP. These are funded by politicians who steal money from the government. They couldn’t be disciplined because they claim they help the government.)
Santiago, fresh from a clinical trial for a new anti-cancer pill, also proposed to adopt traditional customary systems of justice to stop internal conflict in the region.
READ: Santiago to skip Comelec debate to try new anticancer pill
“Pangalawa (Second), to stop the internal conflict in Mindanao, we have to adopt their laws in a Western style of the justice system. Maganda naman yung mga ugali ng Tausug kaya ginawang municipal ordinance ng isang bayan (Tausogs have a good attitude that’s why there is a municipal ordinance in a town),” Santiago said.
“Kaya sa dalawang paraan na ito, maaring magtagumpay na tayo sa wakas at maaring masugpo na ang gera at terrorism sa Mindanao (In these two ways, we can finally succeed and we can end war and terrorism in Mindanao),” she added.
Santiago missed the second presidential in Cebu last month after undergoing trial for a new drug. She returned to the campaign trail and reiterated that she has regained her health. RAM
READ: Back in form? Santiago stutters, trembles in Dagupan debate
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