Press Release
April 14, 2009

Transcript of interview with Senator Miriam Santiago

On her inclusion in Former President Estrada's list of senatoriables for the 2010 elections

Although there have been emissaries I haven't talked to Mr. Estrada, and I consider this a friendly act and I am fully appreciative. There also have been certain talks with other camps. My problem is I just cannot lift interest level in politics anymore. And with the state of my health I doubt very much that I can campaign nationwide like I used to.

I'm not particular what ticket to run under because there is no ideological difference. Everybody is for a prosperous economy, against global warming, against mob rule and in favor of the rule of law--all of these are key bullets.

Are you running for reelection?

I don't think so. I want to get a life (laughs). I think intellectually, I accept that I have to, but the momentum of 1992 when I first ran for president has already worn thin and I cannot keep on running on the possibility that I might become president someday. There is no more 'someday'. It's already here. This is the now. So I really would like to either take a sabbatical of one or two years and go back to work as a lawyer because I cannot just take a sabbatical from politics and hope that people will still remember me. After one year nobody would know who I am.

It is not definite, but I'm resting with my conscience now.

Are you done with politics?

Maybe so, I get very frustrated very easily. So I think we, the older generation, should now prepare ourselves for giving way to the next generation of politicians, and maybe we should limit ourselves to mentoring them.

Also all the presidentiables, at least the major ones who deserve our serious consideration, all have the money to run. Those who do not have the money are engaging in self-indulgence. I don't know what it is about the presidency that enables a person to self-delude himself for so long and for so far. You can't possibly win--I will affirm on what Sen. Villar said--on less than P1B, but my estimate is P3B.

Is Estrada's senatorial list winnable?

Yes, at least more than half of it.

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