Miriam: Bongbong can take over 'if something happens to me'

BATAC, Ilocos Norte - While maintaining that she has already been cleared of lung cancer, presidential aspirant Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Tuesday said her running mate Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is highly-qualified to assume the presidency "if something happens" to her.

"If I am elected as President and something happens to me, we want somebody young and idealistic, as you have witnessed, to take over the reigns of government," Santiago said during her speech at the Imelda Cultural Center in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, referring to Marcos.

As the campaign period for national positions formally opened on Tuesday, Santiago and Marcos chose to hold their campaign kick-off in Batac, the hometown of the latter's father, the late dictator Former President Ferdinand Marcos.

In an interview with several reporters in a private plane on her way to Ilocos Norte, Santiago maintained that she is already on remission from cancer, elaborating that the signs and symptoms of the disease in her body had already disappeared.

Santiago maintained that she will not back out from seeking the presidency in the coming May 2016 elections.

"It's impossible to change my mind. You can ask my husband...There's no backing out," Santiago said.

Extensive experience

During her two-minute speech at the proclamation rally, Santiago said her extensive experience in the government is what she can "offer" to the public.

"Ako naman, inaalok ko lang ang aking karanasan sa gobyerno. Ang daming sekreto sa gobyerno e," Santiago said, adding that corruption in the government must be curbed by the next president.

Santiago vowed to prosecute those involved in corruption in the government especially in connection with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

"I tell you this, once I become the President of this country, all the people who stole the pork barrel, amounting to billions of pesos shall be sent promptly to brand-new jails," Santiago said.

"Mamili sila ng kulungan nila. Merong ordinaryo, merong business class, merong first class, pero kulong sila lahat!" she added.

Shots fired

The feisty senator also made comments seemingly directed at her opponents without mentioning any names.

"Merong isa hindi sigurado kung saan siya pinanganak," Santiago said about one opponent in apparent reference to Sen. Grace Poe, whose status as a foundling has raised questions about whether she is a natural-born citizen — a Constitutional requirement for the presidency.

"Yung isa naman ang daming scandal tungkol sa pagnanakaw ng pera," Santiago added. This is in apparent reference to Vice President Jejomar Binay, who has had to contend with various allegations of corruption ahead of the campaign.

While Santiago was in a fighting mood, Marcos said his advocacy will center on empowering and uniting the Filipinos.

"Kailangan natin maibalik ang mga lider na pagkakaisahin ang mga Pilipino at mailalabas ang galing ng mga Pilipino," Marcos said.

"Ang aking adbokasiya ay pagkakaisa," he added.

Pickup lines but no Q&A

Santiago and Marcos then headed to nearby Mariano Marcos University to deliver a speech before students.

She spoke for about 10 minutes, delivering a few pickup lines to the delight of the crowd, before reiterating that Marcos is highly qualified to take over the government in the event that she can’t finish her possible presidency.

"If I die before I finish my six-year term, Sen. Marcos, will be more than able fit for the position," Santiago said, her voice noticeably trembling.

She left the university ahead of Marcos to go back to Metro Manila, begging off from the question and answer portion with the students.

In a chance interview after the event, Marcos dismissed Santiago's statement about taking over as a joke, saying that the latter always jests about her health condition.

"Naku, alam niyo naman si Senator Miriam palabiro at lagi niyang nababanggit ang mga bagay na ‘yan. But you know, I think it is just to demonstrate na may kumpiyansa siya sa akin at kami’y nagkakasundo at sumasang-ayon sa mga malalaking issue," Marcos said.

"I think what she means, and I’m very confident about this, ang sinasabi niya ay may kumpiyansa siya sa akin na maitutuloy [ko] kung ano man ang masisimulan niya," he added. —KG/JST, GMA News