Santiago not a senatorial candidate in 2007

This is to respectfully clarify Marlon Ramos and Nikko Dizon’s news article titled “Abalos accused of rigging 2007 polls.” (Inquirer, 9/20/11)

The article claimed that Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was one of the “favored” senatorial candidates included in the top 12 senatorial line-up during the 2007 elections. This is false. Senator Santiago did not run in the 2007 national elections. She ran in 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2010.

We would like to stress that Senator Santiago has never engaged in nor benefited from any electoral fraud. She has never cheated and has always maintained a clean record in government service.

—JEANIE A. BACONG, chief of media affairs, and public relations, Office of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago