Transcript of Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago's interview

Do you think cabinet officials have consulted Sec. Recto?

Yes, lalo na yung mga may t.v. ads. Kung hindi sila magreresign, pagreresignin ko rin sila pagkatapos ng hearing sa Friday.

When did you find out about Sec. Recto's resignation?

Noong pumunta kami sa Tokyo, kasama kami sa Philippine delegation to meet the Prime Minister. He (Recto) did not (directly) tell me, but he said, "I might have to leave my post because I am going to run for senator."

Does he have another reason for resigning?

Let me just say that it is personal. He is happy in his job because that is his expertise. He was thrown into the favorable water of his desire, so he was swimming along very happily.

Marami na ba ang nagcommit para sa Friday?

No, on the contrary we have some cabinet members who have already said that they have prior commitments, so we have to evaluate whether their prior commitments have suddenly materialized out of thin air or something that is expendable because I had a very busy schedule as a speaker until I contracted Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and I know that you can cancel speeches as long as you do it in advance so you don't hurt people's feelings.

Do you think it is uphill to run for the administration?

It's always uphill when you're an administration senator running for re-election on an administration ticket because generally, after six years, the people want a change, always�that has been the intellectual satisfaction of the Filipino voter. After six years of trying one President, they just want to go on to another one.

With whose ticket are you running?

That depends on what offer is made to me. In the first place, the party would have to spend for my propaganda because I don't have any. Some of the parties are already allocating P50 million per senatorial candidate, so you can just imagine how much the market will bear. In my own view, you at least need to have P200 million.

How much do you think will they need to spend on your propaganda?

It depends. Any party would not give the same amount to the same candidate. That is the big big secret. It depends on how many votes the candidate is capable of obtaining to the entire ticket.

Is it true that there are some candidates who are promised funds but are not given any?

Yes. That is the perennial tragedy of Philippine politics--you'll be invited to join a ticket, you'll be given a certain amount, you'll be given a small down payment, and you'll never see the balance, but you are already an announced candidate.

Nabiktima na po kayo niyan?

At least not in my case, but I know many who get stranded that way.

On the possibility of running again for senator

I don't know whether I would still run for politics because I am terminally sick of politics. The question (they asked) was hypothetical: "Ma'am if you decide to run, with whose ticket would you probably run?" I said, if President Arroyo is not running, and it looks like she cannot run anymore under any proposed charter change because there is simply no time left, then I would likely be with Sen. Villar's ticket because he has formerly asked me. I told him I would give him priority as manifestation of my debt of gratitude to him because in 1992, when I was very young, he gave me a lot of money when I didn't even know him. We really needed a shot in the arm at that time when we completely had no funds. He gave me a running start, that's why I'm close to him.

On whether Sen. Madrigal's investigation of the C5 road controversy is questionable because of her declaration to run for president

Her statements as a complainant may no longer be as effective as it otherwise would have been if she was completely uninvolved in the process. I'm afraid the public would be looking at her testimony with subjective prisms or glasses.

On whether or not Sen. Madrigal should run

It's not a question of whether she should, that depends upon her. But I believe personally that she'll be more credible to the public as the accuser if she were not contesting the same position.