“I am very sorry to miss out on the debates, but it would be a disservice to the country if I forego the opportunity to get rid of my cancer completely and strengthen myself further to serve the Filipino people.”
This was what presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said in a statement released by her office explaining why she will not be attending the next Commission on Elections (Comelec) debate scheduled on Sun, Mar 20, at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City.
According to the information from her office, Santiago has joined “an international clinical trial to gain free access to cancer medication, which would otherwise cost reportedly PHP500,000 every three weeks.” The trial requires Santiago to report for outpatient radiation treatment at the hospital daily for a short period.
However, Santiago said she will try and participate in the third and last presidential debate if the ongoing treatments do not inhibit her.
Prior to her announcement, it may be recalled that the senator, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in June 2014, announced that she was in remission. She has delivered speeches in several universities around the country, banking on her popularity among the youth and her social media presence.
