Miriam: Nothing wrong with Villar's announcement of 2010 bid

MANILA, Philippines - Despite her staunch campaign against premature campaigning, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago found nothing wrong with the recent announcement of Senate President Manuel Villar that he will be running for president in the 2010 polls. "He is not campaigning he is merely declaring…basically (politicians make their declarations) upon inquiry by the media," Santiago told reporters Friday. Earlier television reports said Villar announced his presidential bid during the birthday of the Fernando Poe's daughter, Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares. Santiago said campaigning, as defined in the election omnibus code, is having certain activities, including putting up billboards, which has an effect of obtaining exposure for candidacy or eliciting a positive response from the public. The senator believes that it was better for politicians to declare their intention to run early "so that we can watch out if they are engage in premature campaigning." Santiago said she is still waiting for the response of the Supreme Court on her petition on premature campaigning. "We will wait 'till the SC act on my appeal," Santiago said. The senator has brought her petition to the High Tribunal after the Commission on Elections said it is not the right agency to rule on premature campaigns as the personalities involved are yet to file their certificate of candidacies. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV