Enrile on Miriam’s planned 2016 presidential run: I’m afraid she’s too brilliant

“I’m afraid she’s too brilliant.”

 

This was the remark Wednesday by Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile when asked to comment on the announcement of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago that she will seek the presidency in the coming 2016 polls.

 

But when pressed to elaborate on his answer, Enrile told reporters: “I was just joking.”

 

“She’s been running for president for so many times already. This is her [third] time,” he said, referring to Santiago’s joining the presidential race in 1992 where she lost to Fidel V. Ramos.

Santiago also sought the presidency in 1998, which was won by then-Vice President Joseph Estrada.

 

And when asked if he will endorse Santiago in the event she becomes the running mate of Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Enrile said he never thought about it.   

“I never thought about that, I do not know whether Bongbong would want to be a running mate of anybody…He has not selected anybody yet,” he said. 

Over the weekend, Enrile raised the hand of Marcos when the latter officially declared his vice presidential bid. Marcos filed his certificate of candidacy on Tuesday.

 

On whether he thinks the Philippines will be in good hands if ever Santiago wins, Enrile just said: “I will not be here anyway so bahala na kayo.”

 

He then refused to answer other questions connected with Santiago. “Huwag na nating pag-usapan yan, that’s not important to me.”

Falling out

 

Enrile and Santigao go a lowg way. Santiago served as a special assistant of then-Justice Secretary Enrile during the Marcos administration. She had just graduated from a law school then.

Years later, they had a falling out which resulted in bitter debates in the Senate.

 

“I-eendorso? Do I have to endorse anybody for president? I will vote but endorsing, saka ko na lang ipaaalam, sa panahon ng kampanya,” he said.

 

 

He again refused to say who will he support between Marcos and Sen. Gregorio Honasan II, who are both close to him.

 

“Bongbong calls me Tito, Greg regards me as his tatay-tatayan. I’m going to keep my choices in my heart,” he said.

 

He added that it is up to the voters to decide and he can raise the hands of all the candidates if they want to.

 

“Itataas ko ang kamay nilang lahat,” Enrile said with a smile.

 

But when asked if he will raise the hands of Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Alan Peter Cayetano, who are also both seeking the vice presidency, he just said: “Ibang salitaan yun.”

 

Trillanes and Cayetano had run-ins with Enrile in the past. — RSJ, GMA News