Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, who was earlier diagnosed with cancer, reveals she had already licked her cancer and is now contemplating on taking on the presidential bid in 2016.
In a statement, Santiago said: "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."
She said she will run as president as long as there are enough "like-minded" supporters such as constitutionalist Joaquin Bernas.
"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," she said.
Santiago, who ran in the past under the People’s Reform Party, said she will need to coalesce with the Liberal Party and/or the Nacionalista Party.
"After I was diagnosed with cancer, Sen. Manny [Villar] went to my house and told me, among other things, that my popularity level is very high. But he also said that he is encouraging several hopefuls to raise their survey ratings,” she said.
Santiago was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer back in June.
She is now showing signs of recovery as doctors at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City issued last August 12 a report showing that the tumor in her left lung, which alone was affected, has “regressed” or gotten smaller.--Source: ABS-CBN News