(Eagle News) — Former Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago succumbed to cancer this morning (September 29).
Santiago, 71, peacefully died in her sleep in their La Vista residence, according to her husband, Atty. Jun Santiago.
The former senator, who ran for president in the May 9 elections, has been battling lung cancer since she announced that she had the disease in July 2014.
She, however, revealed last year that she was undergoing a clinical trial for a new anti-cancer drug.
At the senate, Senator Grace Poe, asked for a moment of silence after learning of the passing of Senator Santiago.
“Let us pray for Senator Santiago. She passed away a few minutes ago,” Senator Poe said.
Senator Manny Pacquiao said the senator inspired many people.
Former Senate President Franklin Drilon, said Senator Santiago was a “loss to the nation.”
“I join the nation in mourning her death. She served our country well,” he said.
Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who was the late senator’s running mate in the May 9 elections, said he “had nothing but good memories of Senator Miriam.”
He described her as “someone who should be emulated as a public servant.”
“She was a real beacon of intelligence and good sense,” Marcos Jr., said.
Senator Santiago was notable for having served in all three branches of the Philippine government – judicial, executive, and legislative. Some of her alma maters include University of the Philippines, University of Michigan, Oxford University, Maryhill School of Theology, University of California, Harvard University, and Cambridge University.
The Australian magazine in 1997, named Santiago as one of The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World.
In 1988, she was named laureate of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service, with a citation “for bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a graft-ridden government agency.
In 1992, she ran in the presidential elections, but narrowly lost to Fidel Ramos.
In 2012, Senator Santiago became the first Filipina and the first Asian from a developing country to be elected a judge of the International Criminal Court. But she later resigned the post for health reasons
In 2016, the senator became part of the International Advisory Council of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), an intergovernmental body that promotes the rule of law.
She has served three terms in the Philippine Senate. She became senator of the republic in 1995 and authored the most number of laws and bills in the entire history of the Philippines.
Her supporters immortalized her as ‘the best president we never had’.
Santiago was known as the Dragon Lady, the Platinum Lady, the Incorruptible Lady, the Tiger Lady, and most popularly, the Iron Lady of Asia.
