Miriam to attend final presidential debate with a vow to end mudslinging

MANILA, Philippines – Presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago on Monday confirmed her attendance in the final Commission on Elections-led presidential debate in Pangasinan on Sunday.

"Oh yeah I will be there!" Santiago said in an ambush interview after her speech in a commencement exercise at the Bulacan State University in Malolos.

Santiago, who skipped the second presidential debate in Cebu last March, said she would return and plans to raise the debate to a higher level to stop the mudslinging among fellow candidates.

She said she wants the debate to focus on local and foreign issues concerning the nation to determine the competency of the presidential bets.

“Nagsisiraan lang ng nagsisiraan ang mga kandidato," Santiago said.

"Gusto ko sana yung discussion ng ating mga domestic issues and even international policies," she added.

Despite being against criticizing fellow candidates, Santiago said if the candidates attack her, she would fight back in a smart and polite way. She said she would rephrase her response to remain polite.

The running mate of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the debate is supposed to be intelligent and not about lashing out at other candidates.

Santiago failed to attend the second presidential debate last March 20 for she underwent a clinical trial for a new anti-cancer pill.