Miriam Defensor Santiago 2016 presidential campaign
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.
Miriam Defensor Santiago 2016 presidential campaign | |
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Campaign | 2016 Philippine presidential election |
Candidate | Miriam Defensor Santiago (President) Secretary of Agrarian Reform (July 20, 1989 – January 4, 1990) Judge of the International Criminal Court (2011–2014) Senate of the Philippines (June 30, 1995 – June 30, 2001) and (June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2016) Bongbong Marcos (Vice President) Senator of the Philippines (June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016) Governor of Ilocos Norte (June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2007) and (1983–1986) Ilocos Norte's 2nd District Representative (June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2010) and (June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1995) Vice Governor of Ilocos Norte (1980 – 1983) |
Affiliation | People's Reform Party Youth Reform Movement |
Status | Announced: October 13, 2015 Official launch: October 13, 2015 Lost election: May 9, 2016 |
Headquarters | Narsan Building, 3 West 4th St., West Triangle, Quezon City |
Slogan | Si Miriam Ang Sagot! (lit. "Miriam is the answer!") |
Website | |
http://miriam.com.ph/newsblog/ |
Background
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
In July 2014, Bongbong Marcos said that he was not discounting the possibility of him 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 City 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 prison.[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 |
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Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. |
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All individuals are members or supporters of the KBL, unless otherwise stated.
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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.[36]
Name | Image | Political party/coalition | Notes | |
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Dionisio Santiago | Independent | Former PDEA director-general | ||
Francis Tolentino | Independent | Former MMDA chairman | ||
Common candidates | ||||
Name | Image | Political party/coalition | Notes | |
Edu Manzano | Lakas-CMD/Partido Galing at Puso | Makati vice mayor | ||
Isko Moreno | Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino/Partido Galing at Puso | Manila vice mayor | ||
Susan Ople |
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Nacionalista Party/Partido Galing at Puso | OFW advocate | |
Jericho Petilla | Liberal Party/Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid | Former Secretary of Energy | ||
Ralph Recto | Liberal Party/Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid* | President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines | ||
Martin Romualdez | Lakas-CMD/United Nationalist Alliance | Leyte representative | ||
Manny Pacquiao | United Nationalist Alliance | Sarangani representative | ||
Joel Villanueva | Liberal Party/Bangon Pilipinas/Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid | Former TESDA director-general |
(*) 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.[37][38][39] Her body lay in state at the Cathedral Grottos of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cubao the following day.[40] 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.[41][42][43]
References
- Bartolome, Jessica; Sisante, Jam (October 13, 2015). "Miriam announces presidential run in 2016". GMA News and Public Affairs. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
- Matsuzawa, Mikas (January 20, 2016). "Will Miriam Defensor-Santiago get the youth vote?". CNN Philippines. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
- Macaraig, Ayee (March 12, 2014). "Miriam for president? No money – I never sold my body!". Rappler. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
- Macaraig, Ayee (July 3, 2014). "Miriam Santiago: I have lung cancer". Rappler. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
- Mendez, Christina (August 28, 2014). "Miriam licks cancer, eyes running in 2016". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
- Burgonio, TJ (November 15, 2014). "If healed, Santiago to run in 2016". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
- Macaraig, Ayee (October 26, 2015). "Miriam: Fighting corruption made me run despite health". Rappler. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- Ramos-Araneta, Macon (July 27, 2014). "Bongbong, Miriam seen as other presidential bets". Manila Standard. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
- Burgonio, TJ (September 11, 2014). "Santiago as presidential candidate ticks off possible running mates". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
- Macaraig, Ayee (October 15, 2015). "Miriam Santiago: Bongbong Marcos is my running mate". Rappler. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
- Mangosing, Frances (January 21, 2016). "Santiago-Marcos tandem still a go". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
- "Duterte's proclamation rally in Tondo set". Sun.Star. February 8, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
- Manlapaz, Jong (February 18, 2016). "Gloria boys suportado si Bongbong Marcos (Gloria boys supports Bongbong Marcos)". DZIQ. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- Echeminada, Perseus (February 10, 2016). "Miriam hits rivals for premature campaigning". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
- "Bongbong Marcos confirms tandem with Miriam Defensor-Santiago". CNN. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- "Bongbong Marcos: Tandem with Miriam 'not a surprise' to me". Rappler. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- "Miriam Santiago will run for president in 2016". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- "Miriam promises 'faster than ever' economic growth if elected president". GMA News Online. October 27, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- "Local News". Sun.Star. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- Geronimo, Jee Y. (January 8, 2016). "Miriam Santiago on RH budget cut: Immoral'". Rappler. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
- "Duterte top presidential pick, two-way race between Robredo, Marcos for VP among young athletes". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. May 7, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- "Bongbong Marcos foes told: Move on from the past". Philippine Daily Inquirer. February 27, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
- "Tumaya na: Villars choose Marcos as VP over Cayetano, Trillanes". Politiko. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
- "Gomezes of Ormoc support Marcos' VP bid". Philippine Daily Inquirer. April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
- 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.
- "Rizal province's Ynares family endorses Bongbong Marcos". GMA News. February 29, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
- "Marcos gets backing of San Juan mayor". ABS-CBN News. February 15, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
- "Nora Aunor picks Grace Poe for president and Bongbong Marcos for VP". Philippine Entertainment Portal. March 31, 2016. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
- "Toni Gonzaga, Paul Soriano criticized for supporting Sen. Bongbong Marcos's VP bid". Pep.ph. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
- 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". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- "Iglesia to vote for Duterte-Marcos on May 9". Eagle News. May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- "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". $5. 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".
- "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.