Miriam's answer on alleged withdrawal of her candidacy

Here's the much-awaited transcript of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago's patriotic closing statement at the recently-concluded PilPinas Debates 2016 round 3. Stay tuned for the video of the debate which will be uploaded here shortly.

Transcript:

There have been a lot of black propaganda against me, most recently in the recent months that I have withdrawn because of my cancer. I have already shown you that I am what I am now. I am what I was today, and what I will be tomorrow. We are not looking for an ordinary leader, or an ordinary manager or administrator. We are looking for the president of the Philippines. So, I think that the first qualification should be international stature. That would be a great help to Philippine foreign and domestic policy. But most importantly, I repeat, there are three qualifications to become a president: academic excellence – ako may doctorate ako in juridical science from America. Tsaka valedictorian ako sa lahat ng klase ko. Hindi naman pwede na yung mga naupo sa likod yun ang magiging presidente ng pilipinas. Pangalawa, professional excellence. Binigyan ako ng prestigious Magsaysay Award for Government Service, “for bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a corrupt government agency.” Meron ba silang ganun? Third, moral excellence. Maliban pa sa dalawang excellences na yon, meron pang moral excellence which is the most important. Unfortunately there is no machine that you can attach to a human being so that you can tell whether that person is honest or not. Maaaring bolero lang, maaaring magaan ang bibig, maaaring kung ano anong sinasabi basta kung anong unang dumating sa isapan niya. Kaya pag-isipan niyo mabuti itong ginagawa natin. Nagpipili tayo ng ating maging leader sa loob na sunod na anim na taon. Hindi tayo pwede mamili na base lang sa kursunada or dahil uso doon sa mga gang ninyo or sa mga tribes ninyo sa eskwela.

We are all united in this endeavor to improve and reform the Philippines. Akala ng iba palaging ganito na lang tayo? Hindi! Lalabanan natin itong kurapsyon na naging bunga at sanhi ng ating kahirapan. We can fight corruption. I have shown it in immigration commission. I have not allowed my words to overcome my deeds. At for those who think that I should withdraw because I have once been a cancer patient. This is what I'll say, I am now normal. I can think. I can act. And I can pray. Ngayon, gusto niyo akong mag-urong? Biro mo, ang lakas pati sa radyo, ang sagot ko sa kanila: I will never quit, I will never stop, I will never withdraw! We all want to change the world for the better. But the person who prayed should be emulated. He said, “God, preserve this country, and begin with me.” Thank you.

#MIRIAM2016 #SiMiriamAngSagot

Click ➡ mds to watch the video courtesy of MDS for President FB page taken from live broadcast of ABSCBN Channel 2, host network of #PiliPinasDebates round 3.