MIRIAM TO FINISH STRONG

Presidential candidate Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago affirmed on Saturday, the last day of the campaign period, that she will finish the electoral race that will end in only voting precincts on May 9.

"I have said it before, and I will say it again: I will never quit, I will never stop, I will never withdraw. I owe it to the Filipino people who believe in my leadership and who yearn for long-overdue reforms," the senator said.

Her statement comes at the heels of calls from President Benigno Aquino III for presidential rivals to unite against Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and ahead of her appearance at a street party prepared by her supporters in Quezon City.

Santiago has previously decried alleged conspiracies to keep her scores low in popularity polls. "These commercial surveys are mind-conditioning tools. The goal is to discourage contributors, effectively depriving me of campaign funds," she said.

She has also denounced black propaganda about her health launched during the campaign, and revealed that several camps have urged her to withdraw in exchange for up to P350 million in reimbursements for campaign expenses.