As a guest candidate of five political parties, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago opted not to endorse or campaign for any presidential candidate.

“I can’t because I’m a candidate of all,” Santiago said minutes after she filed her certificate of candidacy (CoC) for senator at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

She said what she’s going to do is leave it up to the people to decide who they want to vote for President in the May 10, 2010 elections.

“I am going to tell the people, you decide who your President will be. I’m simply saying that whoever the President might be, I’m willing to serve very humbly,” said Santiago.

Among those political parties that invited Santiago to be their guest candidate are the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, Nacionalista Party of Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar, the administration’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD Party, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) of Sen. Edgardo Angara, and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

Santiago said she accepted the invitation to be part of those parties to send the message that she is willing to support and serve whoever will be elected as President.

“I have accepted the slot of guest candidate for all political candidates, except for the Liberal Party because I was invited. So this is my way of sending my message that I’m willing to serve, that I no longer wish to be President myself, but whoever the people will choose to be President will have my support and service,” she said.