Miriam is candidate No. 105

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago yesterday filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) for president at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Manila, making her the 105th candidate to seek the highest post in the country.

Santiago, whose running mate is Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., arrived at the Comelec at 2 p.m.

In a press briefing after submitting her COC, Santiago was asked how she would reconcile her partnership with Marcos, whose father and namesake she opposed during the martial law years.

Santiago was a regional trial court judge when she ordered freed a group of student protesters detained without warrant. 

The senator maintained that she was right in her decision and was even upheld by the Supreme Court years later.

“The truth will always be truth. Justice will always be justice. Life does not have to be a constant straight line from one end to another,” she said.

“At first, I was one of the many Filipinos who did not mind. It made public order easy to accept, your parents were happy, there was peace and order on the streets. Martial law did not proceed as intended,” she noted.

“You do not have to reconcile me as trial judge... because times change.  The millennials have changed.  Opinions and ideologies change.  I would take some time to think over that statement,” she added.

Santiago has underscored the need to evaluate things that happened in the past, “to go over details of martial law in our country so that we will know what path we shall take for the millennials.” 

Aside from Santiago, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption chairman Martin Diño also filed his COC for president under PDP-Laban, the political party of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who did not show up at the Comelec despite persistent rumors that he would eventually file for the presidency.

The other presidential aspirant who came to file COC is OFW Family Club party-list Rep. Roy Señeres of the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka.

Not final yet?

In Laoag City, Marcos said that the Miriam-Bongbong tandem has not yet been finalized.

“There’s no final yet. She’s the one I am actively talking to right now,” Marcos said.

“We are working on details, like if we agree on our schedules platforms.”

Marcos admitted that he is a big fan of Santiago.

“It so happened quite by accident. We always sit beside each other at the Senate even during the previous Congress. Over the years, I have come to appreciate her very much. We all know how brilliant she is, it’s not hard for me to like her. I know her capabilities,” he said.

Marcos said they have yet to come up with a senatorial lineup.

He added independent senatorial candidates may run with him as long as their platforms are similar with his.

The senator took a break from thick preparations for his candidacy and flew to Laoag City yesterday to accompany his mother, Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Imelda Marcos, in filing her COC at the local Comelec office.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos appealed for a “Solid North” support for the vice presidential bid of her brother. – Sheila Crisostomo, Mayen Jaymalin, Ariel Paolo Tejada