Miriam says she’s ready to run for president

Nearly two months after announcing that she has lung cancer, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago seemed to be back in fighting form Wednesday, as she said she is ready to run for President anew.

“I’m not going to be coy. Society leaders have urged me to seek the presidency. I can rise to the occasion, although I was following the other sign posts on the road to recovery,” the senator said.

Among the leaders Santiago was referring to was Jesuit priest and constitutional law expert Joaquin Bernas, who in a TV interview advised President Benigno Aquino III against a second term.

Besides citing the constitutional prohibition on reelection for presidents, Bernas, a member of the 1987 Constitutional Convention, said Aquino should “give Miriam [Santiago] naman a chance.”

“I have licked cancer, and I’m actually thinking of several career options. By 2016, I will be disqualified by law to seek another term as senator,” said Santiago, who ran for president in 1992.

The senator said her doctors have found that the tumor in her left lung has regressed after six weeks of medication called tarceva. “[T]he cancer cells are waving a white flag,” Santiago said.

She added that she only needs to work on her stamina now, adding that she was even able to work on the 2014 editions of some 10 law books which are scheduled for release by the end of the year.

As for the party under whose banner she will run, Santiago, who has always ran under her own People’s Reform Party, admitted the likely need to form an alliance with other political parties.

Among them are the Liberal Party of President Benigno Aquino III, now headed by Transport chief Emilio Abaya, and the Nacionalista Party led by former Senator Manny Villar.

Santiago said Villar hinted at willingness to support her during his visit at her home. “But he also said that he is encouraging several hopefuls to raise their survey ratings,” Santiago said.