By Joann Santiago
MANILA, Oct. 13 (PNA) — Malacanang on Tuesday welcomed the news that Senator Meriam Defensor-Santiago will run for president in the 2016 polls, her second after losing in the 1992 presidential elections.
“Sen. Santiago’s entry in the presidential race provides voters a wider latitude of choice as she has carved a public service record spanning more than two decades in all three branches of government,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a statement.
Among the government positions Santiago held include presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Quezon City during the Marcos administration, Immigration Commissioner and Agrarian Reform Secretary under the administration of then President Corazon Aquino.
She was the first Asian to be elected in the United Nations (UN) as judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC) but declined the post after she suffered from cancer.
The Senator announced her intention to again join the race for the country’s top post during the book signing of “Stupid is Forevermore”, the second book of jokes she authored.
She plans to file her certificate of candidacy (COC) on Friday and will be running under her own party, People’s Reform Party.
Santiago, however, declined to name her running mate as well as her senatorial line-up. (PNA)