Santiago to run for president if all ‘pork barrel crooks’ go on trial

SELFIE. Sen Miriam Defensor Santiago mobbed by graduates of the University of the Philippines Cebu campus after she deliver her message on its 77th Commencement Exercises.(CDN PHOO/TONEE DESPOJO)

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago will only consider running for president if all the people involved in the pork barrel scam are brought to trial.

She said if they remain in office, the possibility of stealing still exists.

“If all the crooks who are substantially involved in the pork barrel scam are brought to trial before the court then I will consider running for president,” she said in a press conference at the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu yesterday.

Santiago, who was the speaker during the 77th Commencement Exercise of the state university, didn’t name names.

But she said that before running for president — her second since her unsuccessful run in 1992 — she would like to start “cleaning these crooks” in government.

She, however, didn’t say how.

Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. are now facing plunder charges for allegedly giving funds from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to bogus nongovernment organizations of alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles in exchange for millions in kickbacks.

Lately, it was reported that more senators are involved in the scam and Santiago’s name was dragged into the controversy,

But yesterday, Santiago said she does not need to defend herself.

“I don’t need to defend myself, especially when it is an unsubstantiated complaint. Every person is innocent in the level of prosecutor unless there is a probable cause and beyond reasonable doubt,” she said.

Santiago also clarified that she never gives funds to NGOs.

“Because of that pork barrel scam, everyone is involved. But that black propaganda from them is not effective because the public already understand what is true,” Santigao added.

Asked what she would do if people insisted that she run regardless of the outcome of the pork barrel investigations, Santiago, laughing, said she would “run away”.

“I have been there before. It is difficult without money. In my estimate, it needs P2 billion. B as in baboy. Baboy talaga (It’s a real pigsty),” she said.

“Saan ba nila kinukuha ang P2 billion (Where will they get the P2 billion)? It could be from illegitimate businesses… which do not give money beyond certain level,” she added.

Santiago lost to Fidel V. Ramos in the 1992 presidential elections.

The feisty senator was also asked to comment on the survey where she landed number four among the possible vice presidential contenders.

“Vice presidentiable? Are you insulting me? Sinong nagsabi na number 4 ako (Who said that I’m number 4)?” Santiago said in jest. She then added she was happy that she was being considered as a candidate and that she was merely joking around about her prospects.

In the meantime, Santiago said she was trying to test the capacity of her body in withstanding long distance flights to determine if she could go to the Hague and report to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“I am very grateful because I am treated as a special case since my failure to report has been due to circumstances beyond my control,” she told reporters.

“I am only trying, the capacity of my body to withstand flights. That’s why I came by plane to Iloilo. I am only testing myself if I can withstand the rigors of travel. Then I can withstand the rigor all the way to Hague,” she added.

Santiago bared her plans to go to the United States (US) for treatment of her chronic fatigue syndrome. She has been diagnosed with the condition, which prevented her from traveling to The Hague to report to ICC.

Since she was elected as judge in the ICC in December 2011, she has not reported for work because of her health condition.