Miriam vows to raise last leg of Pilipinas Debates 2016 to higher level

Presidential candidate Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Monday vowed to attend the final leg of the Pilipinas Debates 2016 to be held in Pangasinan on Sunday.

“Yes I will attend. I will raise it (presidential debate) to a higher level,” Santiago told reporters at the sidelines of the commencement exercises at the Bulacan State University in Malolos, Bulacan wherein she served as the guest speaker.

It can be remembered that Santiago, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, skipped the second leg of the presidential debate in Cebu City on March 20 to undergo a clinical trial, for a new and still unnamed anti-cancer pill.

In an interview with reporters at her campaign sortie in her homeprovince Iloilo, Wednesday last week, Santiago said the medicine seems to be working well, giving her strength to go around campuses prior to the May 9 elections.

Santiago said that with the upcoming final debate, she hopes that more relevant issues would be discussed instead of the candidates throwing dirt against each other.

“Nagsiraan lang nang siraan ang mga kandidato. Gusto ko sana yung discussion ng ating domestic issues and international policies,” Santiago said.

During her speech before the graduating students of BSU, Santiago called on the students to be more discerning and critical of the platforms of the candidates and not get easily swayed by their supposed empty promises.

“Ngayong mayroong mga presidential debate, ang maririnig mo lang ay ‘magbibigay ako ng mga tulay dyan, magbibigay ako ng mga kalasada, libre ang state education.' E nasaan na? Ang malaking pagtatanong ay  saan tayo kukuha ng pera?,” Santiago said.

“Hindi naman nila tinutukoy yun. So, the presidential debate should focus on where should we get the money to start up this little graduates and the other individual initiatives. As members of the electorate, be critical, vocal and participative in the political process,” Santiago added. —NB, GMA News