The 2016 presidential campaign of Miriam Defensor Santiago , a then-incumbent
Senator of the Philippines , was announced on October 13, 2015 at a book signing event.
[1]
Miriam Defensor-Santiago submitted her certificate of candidacy (COC) on October 16, 2015. She was fifth overall in the election and lost to
Rodrigo Duterte . Santiago died of
lung cancer five months later.
Background
Miriam Defensor Santiago
Miriam Defensor Santiago previously ran for president in the elections of
1992 and
1998 .
[2]
It was reported in March 2014 that Santiago was not interested in vying for a higher post, saying that she would rather support a female candidate for presidency. She said that she had no funds for a presidential campaign, but argued that social media would be a significant factor in the 2016 election.
[3]
On July 2, 2014, Santiago announced that she was diagnosed with stage 4
lung cancer . However, she said that her cancer is not
metastasic and is expected to be cured within six weeks through
molecularly targeted therapy .
[4]
In August 2014, Santiago declared that she was open to run as president, saying that she was recovering and considering two other career options: entering the
International Development Law Organization based in
Rome , or authoring books about foreign policy at the
Wilson Center in
Washington, D.C.
[5]
In November 2014, Santiago announced that she will run for president if she is completely healed of cancer, saying that, at that time, 90 percent of her cancer cells had regressed. She also said that she was considering entering a coalition with the
Liberal Party and
Nacionalista Party if she decided to run.
[6]
On October 26, 2015, a meet-and-greet event in front of UP students was held in UP Bahay ng Alumni (the same place where her co-presidential candidate
Grace Poe announced her intention to run for president). Santiago reiterated that she would run for the highest political position in the Philippines for the third time to stop the corruption in the government despite having stage 4 lung cancer:
[7]
I have passed through the hardest of physical trepidations and hardships known to man. Cancer is not an easy disease to have. I decided upon consultation with my doctors at Saint Luke's Medical Center that it should be up to me to run for president.
— Miriam Defensor Santiago
Running mate
Defensor Santiago with her running mate,
Bongbong Marcos
In July 2014, Bongbong Marcos said that he was not discounting the possibility of his running for president and, at that time, he said that his
Nacionalista Party had only discussed about their agenda in the 2016 election.
[8]
It was reported in September 2014, that Santiago considered
Rodrigo Duterte ,
Grace Poe and
Gilberto Teodoro as her running mates.
[9]
On October 15, 2015, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago confirmed Senator
Bongbong Marcos as her running mate.
[10] Santiago and Marcos are two of the three senators who acquitted
Renato Corona in his
impeachment trial in 2012 (the other senator was the late
Joker Arroyo ).
Marcos revealed on January 21, 2016 that his campaign with Santiago would be officially launched in the Ilocos region, his home region. He also said that he and Santiago would campaign separately if possible to maximize their reach.
[11]
Santiago and Marcos started their campaigns with a proclamation rally held in
Mariano Marcos State University in
Batac, Ilocos Norte on February 9, 2016.
[12]
Marcos, on the other hand, inaugurated his campaign headquarters in
Mandaluyong on February 18, 2016.
[13]
Political positions
Corruption
In relation to the
Priority Development Assistance Fund scandal , Santiago promised to put those
who have pocketed their
Priority Development Assistance Fund , commonly known as pork barrel to be arrested.
[14]
Governance
According to Defensor Santiago’s running mate Bongbong Marcos, he and the candidate agreed on the importance of good governance.
[15]
[16]
[17]
She has also promised to sign the Freedom of Information Act as the act is an “important tool to promote public accountability.”
[18]
Social and economy issues
Defensor Santiago also plans to “aggressively fight the war against illegal drugs”. She has promised to reform the tax system and increase government efficiency, with the goal of keeping the government deficit below 3% of the GDP. Defensor Santiago also plans to invest in public infrastructure, agriculture sector, and government institutions.
[19]
RH Law
An advocate of the Reproductive Health Law (RHL), Defensor Santiago was not pleased by the 1 billion peso budget allocation cuts for contraceptives. She said that, if she will be elected, she will work for a full and conscientious implementation of the RHL.
[20]
Endorsements
Miriam Defensor Santiago
Current and former Philippine Senators
Current and former Philippine Representative
Current and former Philippine Governor
City Councilor
Ramon Yabut, Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod (
Pasay )
Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Personalities
Athletes
Bongbong Marcos
All individuals are members or supporters of the
KBL , unless otherwise stated.
Former Philippine Presidents
Current and former Philippine Senators
Current and former Philippine Representatives
Imelda Marcos , wife of former
President
Ferdinand Marcos ,
Incumbent
Representative of
Ilocos Norte (
2nd District )
Mitos Magsaysay , former Representative (
Zambales )
[13]
Prospero Nograles , former House Speaker and Representative (
Davao City )
[13]
Rodolfo Fariñas,
Incumbent
Representative of
Ilocos Norte (
1st District )
Mark Cojuangco , former Representative of
Pangasinan
[23]
Trisha Bonoan-David, 4th District Representative of
Manila
Antonio Lagdameo, Jr. , incumbent Representative of
Davao del Norte
Jonathan dela Cruz, incumbent Representative of ABAKADA Party-List and Marcos' campaign manager
[24]
Mark Villar , incumbent Representative of
Las Piñas
[25]
Lucy Torres , incumbent Representative of
Leyte
[26]
Current and former Provincial Governors and Vice Governors
Current and former Philippine Mayors and Vice Mayors
Jerry Pelayo, former Mayor (
Candaba ,
Pampanga )
[13]
Pablo Ortega, Mayor (
San Fernando ,
La Union )
[29]
Guia Gomez , Mayor (
San Juan City )
[30]
Benjamin Abalos, Jr. Mayor (
Mandaluyong )
[31]
Casimiro Ynares III , former
Rizal Governor, Mayor
Antipolo City, (
Bong Revilla 's brother in law)
Vergel Aguilar, Mayor (
Las Piñas )
[25]
City Councilor
Ramon Yabut, Member, Sangguniang Panlungsod (
Pasay )
Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Celebrities
Nora Aunor , actress
[32]
John Estrada , actor
Alex Gonzaga , TV host and actress, daughter of Taytay, Rizal vice mayor Bonoy Gonzaga
[33]
Toni Gonzaga , TV host and actress, daughter of Taytay, Rizal vice mayor Bonoy Gonzaga
[33]
Richard Gomez , actor, sportsman and
Ormoc mayoralty candidate
[26]
Paul Soriano , film director
[33]
Dawn Zulueta , TV host and actress, wife of
Davao Representative Anton Lagdameo
Ferdinand Topacio , lawyer (a member of
Iglesia ni Cristo )
Organizations and Support Groups
Alliance of Transport Organizations (ACTO)
[34]
El Shaddai
[35]
Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP)
[34]
Iglesia ni Cristo
[36]
[37]
Iglesia Filipina Independente
[38]
Kabataang Barangay Alumni Association Inc., Manila Chapter
Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP)
[34]
National Federation of Sugarcane Planters
[39]
Panay Federation of Sugarcane Planters
[39]
Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila & Suburbs Drivers Association Nationwide, Inc. (PASANG MASDA)
[34]
Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (Aldub - Alyansang
Duterte -Bongbong)
[40]
Sugar Producers Association (CONFED) Negros-Panay Chapter
[39]
United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines
[39]
Senate slate
The 10-man senatorial slate of Santiago and Marcos was announced during a campaign event at the Ynares Sports Arena on February 14, 2016.
[41]
(*) also running under Partido Galing at Puso.
Aftermath
Five months after the elections, Santiago died in her sleep at exactly 8:52 a.m. on 29 September 2016 while she was confined at the
St. Luke's Medical Center in
Taguig from
lung cancer ; several reports cited that Santiago died in her residence in La Vista Subdivision,
Quezon City .
[42]
[43]
[44] Her body
lay in state at the Cathedral Grottos of the
Immaculate Conception Cathedral in
Cubao the following day.
[45] Following a Catholic
funeral Mass , she was interred at the Loyola Memorial Park in
Marikina on 2 October, beside the tomb of her son Alexander, who died in 2003.
[46]
[47]
[48]
References
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^ Matsuzawa, Mikas (January 20, 2016).
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^ Macaraig, Ayee (March 12, 2014).
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^ Macaraig, Ayee (July 3, 2014).
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^ Mendez, Christina (August 28, 2014).
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a
b Macaraig, Ayee (October 26, 2015).
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^
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^
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^
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^
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^
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^
a
b
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^
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^
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^
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Philippine Daily Inquirer . February 27, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016 .
^
a
b
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^
a
b
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^ Beleo, Erwin G. (November 13, 2015).
"Chavit to campaign for 'Binay-Bong' in Solid North" . Manila Bulletin . Archived from
the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2015 .
^
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^
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^
"Marcos gets backing of San Juan mayor" .
ABS-CBN News . February 15, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2016 .
^ Yee, Jovic (February 20, 2016).
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Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved February 24, 2022 .
^
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the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016 .
^
a
b
c
"Toni Gonzaga, Paul Soriano criticized for supporting Sen. Bongbong Marcos's VP bid" . Pep.ph. Retrieved October 26, 2015 .
^
a
b
c
d Casayuran, Mario (February 25, 2016).
" 'Big 4' transport groups endorse Marcos" .
Manila Bulletin . Retrieved March 12, 2016 .
^ Pilapil, Jaime R. (April 30, 2016).
"El Shaddai endorses Marcos" .
Manila Times . Retrieved May 1, 2016 .
^ Rosario, Ben (April 28, 2016).
"INC chooses Bongbong for VP -sources" .
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^
"Iglesia to vote for Duterte-Marcos on May 9" .
Eagle News . May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016 .
^
"Iglesia Filipina Independiente Is For Marcos" (Press release).
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^
a
b
c
d
"Sugar barons sweeten Sen. Marcos' VP bid" (Press release).
Senate of the Philippines . February 18, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016 .
^
"Party-list backs bid to pair Rody, Marcos" . Manila Standard. March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016 .
^ Gagalac, Ron (February 13, 2016).
"Miriam-Marcos tandem bares senatorial slate" .
ABS-CBN News . Retrieved February 13, 2016 .
^ Ager, Juliet Javellana, Maila.
"Miriam Defensor-Santiago passes away at 71" . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link )
^
"Miriam Defensor Santiago passes away" . ABS-CBN.
^
"Miriam Defensor-Santiago, a "shining light" in PH politics – Malacañang" .
Manila Bulletin . September 29, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2016 .
^
"Miriam's wake a sea of red as supporters pay last respects" .
GMA Network . September 30, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2016 .
^
"Miriam Defensor Santiago to be buried on October 2 in Marikina" .
Rappler . September 29, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2016 .
^ Pasion, Patty (October 2, 2016).
"Miriam Defensor Santiago laid to rest" . Rappler . Retrieved October 2, 2016 .
^ San Jose, Clarissa E. (September 29, 2016).
"Granting her wish, Santiago will be buried beside her son" . Kicker Daily News . Retrieved October 1, 2016 .