Is Miriam ‘mens sana in corpore sano’?

Haven’t we heard enough of Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago? After foisting her “pa-bebe” act of claiming she got stage 4 cancer (now allegedly cured!), she has steadfastly refused to disclose her complete medical records. Come elections 2016, I would rather stay home than cast my ballot for a person who is full of contradictions and censurable public behavior.

First of all, as a declared candidate for president, she has become “public property,” meaning, she owes it to the people to disclose everything about herself. This will give the public a chance to evaluate if she’s really physically, morally and mentally fit to be president. Refusing to do so by resorting to some legal gobbledygook, she will not assure voters that the person they are voting for is “mens sana in corpore sano” (a sound mind in a sound body). Therefore, if Senator Santiago has really been cured of stage 4 cancer, the burden of the proof is on her not on those who question her claims.

As a former judge, Santiago must have invoked many times the “law of evidence” during trials. Now, she must show proof that her so-called “cure” is beyond any shadow of doubt. And the proof should be backed by laboratory tests and certified by reputable oncologists.

Secondly, Senator Santiago’s choice of Sen. Bongbong Marcos proves that there is a whale of difference between intelligence and wisdom. What motives propelled her to choose Marcos as her vice president? Has she also become afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease so serious that she has no remembrance of the unspeakable wickedness the conjugal dictators foisted on the country? Or is her choice of Marcos another “pabebe” more funny that her jokes?

Suppose (God forbid!) President Miriam Santiago dies in office without completing her term? Eh di, “WOW!”

—CARLOS ISLES, carlosisles@gmail.com