Miriam: I won’t defend Bongbong

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Tuesday said she will not defend her running mate, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr, against criticisms.

 

"He has to defend himself. I did not team up with him to defend him. He is perfectly capable of intellectualizing his situation," Santiago said during the forum with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Pasay City.

 

She said that she would rather withdraw from their "informal coalition" if she has to defend Marcos.

 

"It is not my function to defend Marcos. He should defend himself. Otherwise, I will withdraw from our coalition. We have an informal coalition. I have weighed these matters very carefully. I assure you," she said.

 

"This man is trying to redeem himself. Let us give him a chance," she added.

 

Santiago also said that as far as she knows, Marcos is not facing any charges.

 

"I did not see any prima facie evidence that Marcos killed someone, raped someone or violated the Revised Penal Code. Wala namang alegasyon na siya mismo gumawa," she said. 

 

"Noong Martial Law, maliit pa lang siyang bata. Bigyan natin siya ng pagkakataon dahil nanalo naman na siyang senador. Nanalo siya—ibig sabihin the greater majority do not have opposition to his being a public servant," she said.

 

The senator also said that Marcos was once her student at the University of the Philippines.

 

"Mr. Marcos is a more than average student, but maybe he does not devote time on his assignment," she said. —KG, GMA News