Miriam Santiago chooses cancer pill clinical trial over second presidential debate

Miriam Santiago chooses cancer pill clinical trial over second presidential debate

September 22, 2017 by Jessie Mendoza

Do not expect the feisty Senator and presidential hopeful Miriam Defensor Santiago to be present in the second presidential debate which will be held on March 20 at the University of the Philippines (UP), Cebu.

In a statement recently released to the press, Santiago said that she will be participating in an international clinical trial for a new anti-cancer pill. The trial requires her to report everyday at the hospital for radiation treatment. Thus, she will be unable to attend the much-awaited second installment of the presidential debates.


Startattle.com (Image Credit: miriam.com.ph)

As a participant in the said clinical trial, Santiago said she will be given free medications that cost around half a million pesos every three weeks.

Santiago apologized for her impending absence in the upcoming Presidential debate. GMA News quoted her as saying, “…it would be a disservice to the country if I forego the opportunity to get rid of my cancer completely and strengthen myself further to serve the Filipino people”.

The presidential aspirant hopes to join the last presidential debate which will be held on April 24 in Pangasinan.

Santiago is very open about the status of her health as she announced that she had Stage 4 lung cancer back in July 2014.

In the most recent survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) from March 4 to 7, Santiago is shown at the bottom of the presidential race with a four (4) per cent rating. She also placed last in a Pulse Asia Survey conducted March 1 to 6, favored by three (3) per cent of respondents.

The very intelligent and outspoken Santiago, will be missed by a lot of people in the second presidential debate. A lot of people still believe in her ability to lead the country, despite her battle with cancer.

We are sure that even those who won’t vote for her as President, still value and respect her opinions on various national issues. Filipinos will also miss the witty and usually quotable quotes that Santiago comes up with, on any given topic.

The second installment of the Pilipinas Debates 2016 will be aired on TV5 from 5 to 8 P.M. on March 20. It will be moderated by TV5 News and Public Information head, Luchi Cruz-Valdes.

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