Miriam twits pres'l rivals: I plead guilty to gross poverty

ABS-CBN News

Posted at 16 Apr 2016 09:21 PM

Grace Poe, Rodrigo Duterte, Jejomar Binay, Mar Roxas and Miriam Santiago

BAGUIO CITY - Presidential candidate Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago lambasted her rivals as she resumed her campaign in Baguio City Saturday.

Speaking before thousands of supporters at the St. Louis University gymnasium, Santiago criticized her political rivals for supposedly always claiming that they come from poor families and that they understand the life of poor people.

"Lahat ng kandidato sinasabi mahihirap sila," Santiago said. "If the accusation against me is gross poverty, I plead guilty."

Without mentioning names, Santiago also hit candidates who are facing allegations of corruption and are allegedly hypnotized by power.

"Maraming pera ang gobyerno kaya lang ninanakaw nila. Di ka na nahihiya, yung pera mo galing sa kaban ng bayan," she said.

"Palitan natin ang gobyerno. ‘Yung mga tao na yan are hypnotized by power and influence, they have forgotten the traditional values," she added.

In her speech, the feisty senator also took note of rivals who are being financially supported by huge companies to run their campaign. Liberal Party (LP) standard -bearer Mar Roxas, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Grace Poe have reportedly been getting financial support from the country's top companies not just for their electoral campaign this year but also in the past.

"We are run by billionaires... Hawak sila sa leeg ng mga malalaking kumpanya, at ang gusto nila magpasa ng mga batas na para sa kanila," said Santiago.

READ: Who were the presidential candidates' top donors?

Meanwhile, Santiago also chided Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte over his promise to curb criminality in just three to six months. She just laughed off the idea when asked if she sees this possible.

"Everything takes time," she said. Budhha said there are three things I am proud of: I can wait, I can take, and I can pray."

"We must all learn to wait," she added, saying that a true president must have patience.

Marcos to Youth: Kung ang kabataan ang pag asa ng bayan, si Miriam ang pag asa ng kabataan. #Halalan2016 pic.twitter.com/ax7NGHpcFA — Ron Gagalac (@rongagalac) April 16, 2016

Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who was with Santiago in Baguio, echoed the presidential candidate's statements, saying that true leadership lies in their tandem.

"We have heard from all other candidates, pero dito lang tayo makakarinig ng tunay na solusyon at tunay na pagbabago sa ating bansa," Marcos said.