Duterte saddened by Miriam’s death

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo expressed grief on Thursday over the death of former senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

“We express our deepest sorrow over the passing of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago,” the President said in a statement.

Duterte and Santiago both ran in the May 9 presidential derby but the former won with a wide margin over her and three other contenders.

During the campaign, Santiago earned Duterte’s respect and admiration for her broad understanding in Philippine politics.

Duterte said that while the former senator had passed away, she had left a “sterling” career in government.

“Senator Santiago has left a sterling career in public office. She is best remembered as a graft-buster ‘eating death threats for breakfast’ earning her the Iron Lady of Asia. A constitutionalist, she has always been an advocate for the rule of law,” Duterte said.

“Rest in peace, Madam Senator. May your legacy continue to guide this nation for many years to come,” he added.

Robredo, for her part, urged the whole nation to pray for the soul of Santiago whom she described as an inspiring woman “who will fight until her last breath for what she believes in.”

“May her soul rest in peace,” Robredo said as she extend her sympathy to the bereaved family of Santiago.

The Supreme Court (SC) also mourned the death of Santiago, a lawyer who had served as a trial court judge in Quezon City.

In a statement, SC spokesperson Theodore Te said the courts will not forget the contributions of the senator to the law.

“The Supreme Court mourns with the nation the passing of former Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, offers its prayers for comfort for her loved ones, and remembers her significant contributions to law as: scholar, professor, author, and lawmaker,” The SC said.

Santiago completed her political science degree as magna cum laude and her law degree as cum laude in the University of the Philippines. She finished her masters of Law degree and her Doctor of Juridicial Science degree in University of Michigan.

Santiago was judge of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court during martial law, the youngest during that time.

In 2014, she was elected as Judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which hears cases against humanity for former heads of states. She was the first Asian to be elected in the post. She later resigned in 2014 after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.

Few of the many laws that she authored are the controversial Reproductive Health Act of 2012, Sin Tax Law, Climate Change Act of 2009 and Renewable Energy Act of 2008, among others.

Santiago died peacefully while sleeping, according to her husband lawyer Narciso Santiago. SUNNEX