Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Friday said ranking third in Pulse Asia’s latest poll among probable presidential candidates “is always a good place to be.”
At a press briefing, Santiago said ranking third in these surveys is favorable for her “because No. 1 and No. 2 will fight to death, and they will try to destroy each other to get the other out of the way.”
Meanwhile, Vice President Jejomar Binay topped the presidential survey with 26 percentage points, and Senator Grace Poe is second with 18 percentage points.
Santiago attributed her high rank “for being around forever.”
“So when people need to think of a name, they immediately think of me,” she added.
However, when asked if her current ranking encouraged her to pursue the presidential position, the senator just said it will be up to her doctors if she would be allowed to do so.
Earlier in December, the senator said she would first need to beat the stage four lung cancer plaguing her before she can decide on running for president.
“I have to be in the best of health if I will be president of the Philippines because there are so many things that have to be done simultaneously,” she said.
Santiago’s cancer was discovered last June and is now in remission.
Dramatic changes
While noting that the elections is still a long way, Santiago said she expects changes in the lineup as the poll season nears.
“I will predict that after Christmas and holiday season dies down, the major contributors who actually make or break a candidate in this country, they will begin to group together and see who they can support collectively… because it is very expensive to individually support a presidential candidate,” she said.
She noted that dramatic changes will be made after major contributors have made their pick.
“So right now, these results do not signify anything, except that these are the names in mind when asked about the presidency,” she said. —KG, GMA News
