MIRIAM DIES

FLAGS flew in half-mast in Iloilo yesterday as Ilonggos grieved over the death of former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, one of the most brilliant legal minds in the country.

Born in Iloilo on June 15, 1945, the feisty senator passed away yesterday morning after almost three years of battling lung cancer.

Malacanang joined the nation in mourning the demise of Santiago.

“We condole with families and friends,” said presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella in a prepared statement he read during a media briefing.

Santiago, 71, died peacefully in her sleep at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City.

According to the official Twitter account of Santiago, managed by her relatives, the feisty senator died peacefully at 8:52 am.

Abella said Santiago’s death signaled the passing of an era of politicians with wide ranging intelligence and courage to express their true conviction.

“She was a shining light in Philippine political panels for her sharp legal mind, uncompromising stand and acid humor,” Abella said. “She had a profound influence on millennials and the youth, constantly challenging preconceived notions both political and social.”

In July 2014, Santiago announced that she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.

A year later, the feisty lady lawmaker claimed she defeated cancer with the help of what she called “wonder pills.”

Santiago eventually ran for President but finished last among five aspirants with only 1,415,876 votes in the race won by President Duterte.

In the 1992 elections, Santiago nearly won, losing by only 870,000 votes to former President Fidel V. Ramos.

She ran again in 1998 but placed 7th out of 10 presidential candidates. Former President Joseph Estrada won the poll.

“Cheer up, people! Ganiyan lang talaga ang buhay. The night is darkest just before the sun rises,” reads Santiago’s post on her Facebook page after her third attempt for president.

Santiago, who was named one of “The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World” by the Australian magazine, served as senator from 1995-2001 (first term), 2004-2010 (second term) and 2010-2016 (third and final term).

Santiago was elected as judge of the prestigious International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2011 but almost three years later, she stepped down from the post she never assumed due to health reasons.

Santiago worked in all three branches of government–judicial, executive, and legislative. In the judicial branch, she served as presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City. In the executive branch, she served as immigration commissioner and as agrarian reform secretary. In the legislative branch, she served as senator for three terms.

As senator, she filed the highest number of bills, and authored some of the most important laws.

She was honored with a Magsaysay Award for Government Service and as one of “The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World” by The Australian magazine.

The late senator, known for her jokes, was also a book author and guest speaker in universities, making her very popular among students.

Former president and now House deputy speaker and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said the lady senator’s life was the “epitome of courage, brilliance, eloquence, dedication to public service and commitment to good governance.”

“I join the whole nation in grieving the death of a dear and true friend and loyal ally,” Arroyo said.

Sen. Grace Poe, who confirmed Santiago’s death during a Senate hearing on the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, paused for a minute to pray for her former colleague.

“May we pray for Sen. Santiago. She passed away a few minutes ago,” Poe announced.

Poe also took time to recall when she was expecting Santiago to interpellate her when she was still a neophyte senator about to deliver a privilege speech on the FOI bill.

“When I was given the opportunity, what she said was… ‘Sen. Poe I feel very maternal towards you,’ and instead of interpellating me, she lectured me on the importance of having a FOI,” Poe said.

Poe further noted that Santiago had stressed that the presidential communications privilege should not be abused by the President.

She expressed hope that the FOI Bill be passed into a law in memory of the late senator.

Her running mate in this year’s elections, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said Santiago’s death made the world “less wise, bright and sadder.”

“Words cannot begin to express the deep sadness that not only I and my family but the entire country feels at the devastatingly sad news of Sen. Miriam’s passing,” Marcos said. “Our beacon of wisdom, intelligence and ever-present humor and good sense has flickered out.”

Other members of the Senate also expressed grief over her death.

“I am saddened to know that Miriam will now be debating with a much Greater Body than the Philippine Senate,” Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said.

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara thanked her for the “many years of courageous service to the nation” while Sen. Joel Villanueva said her death was “a very sad day for the Philippines” even as he expressed his gratitude for the “selfless” work she has done for the country.

Sen. Gregorio Honasan II said that Santiago would leave behind “footprints in our public lives that will be hard to follow.” He said that Santiago set the bar higher for public service in terms of competence, dedication and courage.

“She belongs to history and future generations of Filipino citizens and leaders,” Honasan said.

Sen. Nancy Binay she always stopped and listened “to the wise words she would say in the Senate sessions.”

“I knew that Sen. Miriam would be ready with her witty lines and feisty attitude. Sen. Miriam–a brilliant legal mind, a loving wife and mother, and a public servant–would be missed,” Binay said.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez extended his deepest sympathies to the family of Santiago whom he said would be missed for her “trademark colorful language” and “cutting intelligence.”

“With her passing, we lost one of the country’s most vocal and feisty defenders of our national sovereignty and national interest, as well as one of the most feared campaigner against corruption in government,” Alvarez said.