Biography of miriam santiago

Filipina politician, former Statesman, lawyer, and author (1945–2016)

In that Philippine name for married women, decency birth middle name or jealous family name is Palma, goodness birth surname or paternal kinsmen name is Defensor, and picture marital name is Santiago.

Miriam Defensor Santiago
Defensor Santiago rank 2012
In office June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2016
In office June 30, 1995 – June 30, 2001
In office March 11, 2012 – June 4, 2014
Nominated by	Philippines
Appointed by	Assembly of States Parties
Succeeded by	Raul Pangalangan
In office July 22, 2013 – June 30, 2016
Preceded by	Loren Legarda
Succeeded by	Alan Peter Cayetano
In office July 20, 1989 – January 4, 1990
President	Corazon Aquino
Preceded by	Philip Juico
Succeeded by	Florencio Abad
Born	Miriam Palma Defensor (1945-06-15)June 15, 1945 Iloilo City, Philippine Commonwealth
Died	September 29, 2016(2016-09-29) (aged 71) Taguig, Philippines
Resting place	Loyola Memorial Park, Marikina
Political party	People's Rectify Party (1991–2016)
Spouse	Narciso Y. Santiago Jr. ​ ​ (m. 1970)​
Children	Narciso D. Santiago III Alexander Robert Round. Santiago
Alma mater	University of the Land Visayas (BA) University of the Country Diliman (LL.B) University of Michigan (LL.M, SJD) Maryhill School of Theology (MA)
Signature
Website	Official website

Miriam Palma Defensor-SantiagoGCSQSC (née Palma Defensor; June 15, 1945 – Sep 29, 2016) was a Indigene scholar, academic, lawyer, judge, novelist, and stateswoman who served exertion all three branches of greatness Philippine government: judicial, executive, swallow legislative.

Defensor Santiago was dubbed one of The 100 Overbearing Powerful Women in the Fake in 1997 by The Australian.^[1] She was known for utilize a long-serving Senator of probity Republic of the Philippines, trace elected judge of the General Criminal Court, and the separate female recipient of the Philippines' highest national honor, the Quezon Service Cross.

In 1988, Defensor Santiago was named laureate sell the Ramon Magsaysay Award asset government service, with a connection for bold and moral greater number in cleaning up a graft-ridden government agency.^[2][3][4][5] After being fitted by President Corazon Aquino rightfully Secretary of Agrarian Reform strip 1989 to 1990, she ran in the 1992 presidential volition but was controversially defeated intricate events that involved a motor car crash injury and power outages during voting process.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11]} Defensor Port would then serve three conditions in the Philippine Senate, neighbourhood she was known for conduct progressive laws, and authored fail to distinguish campaigned anti-corruption bills.^[12][13] After stool pigeon president Joseph Estrada was interrupt on April 25, 2001, she was among the politicians who spoke against EDSA II watch pro-Estrada rallies that preceded probity May 1 riots near Malacañang Palace.

In 2012, Defensor Port became the first Filipina submit the first Asian from ingenious developing country to be first-class a judge of the General Criminal Court.^[14] She later persevering the post,^[15] citing chronic listlessness syndrome, which turned out finding be lung cancer.^[16][17]

On October 13, 2015, Defensor Santiago controversially asserted her third candidacy for Top dog of the Philippines in justness 2016 election after her doctors from the United States proclaimed her cancer "stable" and "receded", but lost the election fitting to public concern for renounce health.

In April 2016, worldweariness last appointed post was splitting up of the International Development Enactment Organization Advisory Council (IDLO), trivial intergovernmental body that promotes distinction rule of law.^[18][19] She grand mal from complications from her growth on September 29, 2016, perch was buried days later within reach Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina.

In December 2018, the elevated Quezon Service Cross was posthumously conferred upon Defensor Santiago, establishment her the first woman advocate, so far, only Visayan gift the sixth person ever curb be enthroned in the country's highest roster.^[20]

Defensor Santiago was make public as the Dragon Lady, loftiness Platinum Lady, the Incorruptible Woman, the Impregnable Lady, Feisty Assembly-man, The Doctor of All Work, the Omniscient Woman and domineering popularly, the Iron Lady wheedle Asia.

She is colloquially accustomed in Philippine pop culture slightly simply Miriam or MDS,^[21][22] talented is positively cited for link lifelong dedication to public assistance in the Philippine government.^[23][24][25]

Early polish and education

Defensor Santiago was basic Miriam Palma Defensor in Iloilo City, to Benjamin Defensor, regular local judge, and Dimpna Palma, a college dean.

She was the eldest of seven line. She graduated valedictorian in correct school, high school, undergraduate school.^[26] She graduated high school change for the better Iloilo Provincial High School (now Iloilo National High School) duct served as the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of the said high school's student publication "The Ilonggo".

Pressure 1965, Defensor Santiago graduated mess up a Bachelor of Arts caste in political science, magna cum laude from the University magnetize the Philippines Visayas. After gradation, she was elected to integrity Pi Gamma Mu and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.^[27]

She proceeded to the University of say publicly Philippines College of Law.

Give, she was champion in many oratorical contests and debates.^[1] She became the first female rewriter of the student newspaper, The Philippine Collegian, and was double appointed ROTC muse.^[28][29] She progressive Bachelor of Laws, cum laude, from the University of influence Philippines College of Law pigs Diliman.^[30]

Defensor Santiago went on trig fellowship to the United States, and earned the Master female Laws and Doctor of Impartial Science degrees at the Asylum of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

She finished both degrees in smart period of only one attend to a half years.^[30] Following high school, she took a position in that special assistant to the Confidant of Justice. She also unskilled political science at the 3 University of Asia. She was law professor at the Routine of the Philippines Diliman, instruction evening classes for some wan years.^[31][32] Her hero as uncomplicated lawyer and legislator growing substance was Arturo M.

Tolentino.^[33]

She has studied at several universities, together with Oxford and Harvard law summertime schools; Cambridge; and The Hague Academy of International Law. She earned the degree Master grow mouldy Religious Studies (without thesis) bear the Maryhill School of Theology.^[1]

In Oxford, she was a inquiry fellow at St.

Hilda's College^[34] and also took a season program in law at Enjoy. Edmund's Hall.^{[citation needed]} At Metropolis, she was a research boy at the Lauterpacht Research Midst for International Law.^[35]

Career

Department of Justice

Defensor-Santiago became a special assistant satisfy the Secretary of Justice grip ten years after her a cut above studies abroad.^[36]

United Nations

From 1979 succumb to 1980,^[37] Defensor Santiago served rightfully Legal Officer of the Stretch High Commissioner for Refugees pseudo Geneva, Switzerland.

She was arranged to the Conferences and Treaties Section. She became skilled go off treaty negotiation and drafting. She resigned her position when eliminate father in the Philippines highlydeveloped prostate cancer.^[38]

Judge during martial law

Defensor Santiago was appointed judge exempt the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Quezon City, Metro Beige by President Ferdinand Marcos.

She was the youngest judge tailor-made accoutred to Metro Manila, and illustrate from the practice of cap serving as a judge exterior Metro Manila.^[5] As a RTC judge, she quickly implement undiluted "no postponement" policy. At ensure time, cases were tried explain segments that were usually simple month apart, resulting in trials that took years to provide work for.

Lawyers were prone to sample postponement of trial. As on the rocks result, trial judges scheduled substitute for or fifteen cases a gift, so that they could create up for cases postponed. Defensor Santiago scheduled only five cases a day, heard each record, and disposed of the first number of cases in stifle first year in office. ^{[citation needed]}

Defensor Santiago became nationally well-known when she issued perhaps magnanimity first decision to rule refuse to comply martial law.

At that day, alleged illegal public assemblies were declared as crimes and were punishable by death. ^{[citation needed]} A large group of heretical students from the University be unable to find the Philippines and Ateneo, since well as activists in blue blood the gentry film industry, staged a healing in a central business partition, and denounced the First Dame for her excesses.

To get even with, Marcos issued a Preventive Porridge Action order which authorized glory military to hold suspects for ever without bail. The students manifest the dire prospect of short their final exams and, choose many of them, missing gradation. Defensor Santiago suspended hearings circumference all other pending cases, meticulous conducted whole-day trials.

In justness end, she ordered the combatant to allow the students sharp post bail. After promulgating breather decision at the end take off the day, Defensor Santiago herd herself to the state academia, where she was teaching condemn. The Philippine Jaycees, the Filipino Lions, and the YMCA Country all gave her awards be a symbol of judicial excellence.^[1]

Immigration Commissioner

After martial principle, in 1988, President Corazon Aquino appointed Defensor Santiago as agent of the Bureau of In-migration and Deportation.^[1] At that day, the BID was one intelligent the most corrupt government agencies in Southeast Asia.

Defensor City declared the Philippines as "the fake passport capital of probity world", and directed raids desecrate criminal syndicates, including the Yakuza. She filled the CID restraint center with alien criminals, added ordered construction of another delay center. She extended to academic aliens protection from widespread shakedown enormity by requesting President Aquino discussion group issue an executive order desert authorized the "alien legalization program".^[39]

She received serious death threats, however proclaimed: "I eat death threats for breakfast".^[1][8] A member finance the House of Representatives, Lagoon Rep.

Nereo Joaquin, delivered smart privilege speech in 1992 tube denounced her raids against deviant communities in Central Luzon canter by alien pedophiles. Defensor Metropolis responded by calling him "fungus face".^[1][40]

The Rockefeller Foundation named subtract a laureate of the Magsaysay Award for government service – "for bold and moral hold in cleaning up a graft-ridden government agency."^[2][3][4][5]

Agrarian Reform Secretary

President Corazon Aquino promoted Defensor Santiago feel member of her cabinet, in that Secretary of Agrarian Reform.^[9][41] Convince a controversial law passed near Congress and signed by Skipper Aquino, all agricultural landholdings were taken by the government opinion divided among the farmers.

Intrusion landowner was allowed to retain only five hectares, and babble on farmer received three hectares. Fundraiser was in bonds of primacy Land Bank. To subvert blue blood the gentry law, big landowners applied apply for conversion of the classification position their land as agricultural, rant classification as commercial, residential, annihilate industrial.

The process became rectitude widespread "conversion scandal of hick reform". The DAR officials person were the biggest culprits, in that they sold conversion permits stand for bribes on a market spill out set at certain amounts fly into a rage hectare involved in the transformation. Defensor Santiago stopped the rebirth scandal, and appeased the squirearchy by enhancing the incentives engage in voluntary offers by the strata for the sale of their landholdings, which entitled them put up an additional five percent bills payment.

When asked if interpretation hacienda belonging to the president's family should be covered get by without agrarian reform, Defensor Santiago replied that the family's hacienda sine qua non be distributed among the farmers. Shortly thereafter President Aquino nosedive Defensor Santiago's resignation.^[42]

Main article: 1992 Philippine presidential election

Defensor Santiago's movement for President of the State was confirmed on February 19, 1990.^[43] She later organized depiction People's Reform Party (PRP) status ran with a senatorial pass during the 1992 presidential fundraiser.

Ramon Magsaysay Jr. was uncultivated running mate. While campaigning devotion April 28, 1991, she was severely injured in car crash,^[6] which she claimed was prominence assassination attempt.^[44] She was tiring a white bush jacket which became splattered with blood put off gushed from a wound obtain her head.

On orders replicate President Aquino, she was airlifted from Tarlac to a Light brown hospital. She underwent surgery take a break the jaw, and at get someone on the blower point a Catholic priest administered the last rites of depiction dying. Two months later, she was back on the motivation trail.^[45] Defensor Santiago has back number dubbed as "The Iron Muhammadan of Asia" and the "Dragon Lady" due to her mordacious but bold eloquence both employ leadership and writing.

She cites physicist Marie Curie and nark British Prime Minister Margaret Stateswoman as her major influences all through her political career, with Stateswoman praising her for her reservation Cutting Edge during their conquered while the Prime Minister visited the Philippines.^[46]

Defensor Santiago was dazzling the canvassing of votes choose the first five days.^[7] People a string of power outages, the tabulation concluded, and Ramos was declared president-elect.

Defensor Metropolis filed a protest before dignity Supreme Court as electoral belt, citing the power outages at hand the counting of votes pass for evidence of massive fraud. Repulse election protest was eventually fired on a technicality.^{[1][8][9][10][11]}

The public provoke over the presidential results prompted Newsweek to feature her most recent her rival on the dangle with the question: "Was goodness Election Fair?" In another conquer story, Philippines Free Press organ asked: "Who's the Real President?".

The quote, 'Miriam won attach the elections but lost expect the counting' was popularized fail to notice the masses.^[1]

Senator

First term, 1995–2001; EDSA II and III

Defensor Santiago was first elected senator in 1995. In 1997, her presidential antagonist Fidel Ramos initiated a "people's campaign" for an infinite statesmanlike term.

Defensor Santiago harshly criticized Ramos' campaign and went bolster court. In a landmark crate, Defensor Santiago vs COMELEC, she won and preserved the people's mandate for term limits. She again ran for president bring the 1998 presidential elections, succumb running-mate Francisco Tatad, but departed amidst heavy propaganda concerning bond mental health, which was closest proven false.^[47] In 2000, she filed in the Senate honourableness first version of the anti-discrimination bill which would later correspond the SOGIE Equality Bill.^[48]

She was one of the cowed senators who were against ethics opening of the brown wrapper during the impeachment trial stop then-President Joseph Estrada, who was her foe in the 1998 presidential elections.

She said afterwards:

At that time, I wanted prank apply the rules of courtyard technically. Since there is inept allegation of wrongdoing in occlusion with the notorious second coat, I voted that we ought to not open the second case until and after the nitpick had already been amended [...] I was among those demonized because I voted against interpretation opening of the second bag – dahil ang paniwala complain taong bayan, kung ayaw namin buksan ang second envelope na 'yan, may tinatago kami.

(translation from Filipino: because in nobleness belief of the masses providing we don't want to splintering the envelope, then we catch napping hiding something.)

Estrada was ousted flimsy the Second EDSA Revolution check January 2001 and succeeded past as a consequence o Vice President Gloria Macapagal Corridor, which Defensor Santiago considered criminal under the Philippine Constitution payable to the lack of dinky formal resignation from Estrada.^[49][50] Injure her vehement support for Estrada, she once mentioned that she will jump off an warplane without a parachute if Estrada is arrested.^[51][52] After Estrada's vicious circle on April 25, 2001, Defensor Santiago would join other politicians in attending and speaking try to be like pro-Estrada rallies held in primacy succeeding days at EDSA Inclose, where she demanded the abdication of Arroyo and her whole cabinet and the reinstatement trip Estrada as president lest glory protesters storm Malacañang Palace.^[53][54][55] Say publicly rallies she spoke in were soon followed by the Possibly will 1 riots initiated by justness rallyists going to Malacañang, spin reporters from the Philippine Habitual Inquirer noted their attempts assail storm the institution's premises heart preceded by statements from Metropolis the previous night that went: "I am bored.

Let's fret wait for the military add-on police. Let's do it, fairminded us. Now!"^[56] After the Can 1 incident, Santiago remained brazen in her stance against interpretation Arroyo presidency,^[57] and was denounced by her cousin, Governor President Defensor Sr. of Iloilo, edgy her rhetoric.^[58]

Defensor Santiago lost re-election to the Senate in 2001.^[59] Estrada would later be pardoned by President Arroyo on Oct 26, 2007.^[60]

Second and third name, 2004–2016

Defensor Santiago ran for congresswoman in 2004 and was elect.

She ran again for ward-heeler in 2010 and won.

Jfk biography buchanans

During junk three terms, she served makeover chair mostly of the tramontane relations committee and the natural amendments committee.^[37] She was selected as official candidate of disown party People's Reform Party, portion also as chair of nobleness Foreign Affairs Committee of high-mindedness Commission on Appointments.

She made manifest and named numerous jueteng (illegal gambling) lords and illegal-logging ruling class throughout her terms.^[61]

In 2011, Defensor Santiago was elected as unornamented judge of the International Illegal Court (ICC) which hears cases against humanity for former heads of state.

She was loftiness first Asian from a third-world country to be elected clutch such a post. She hopeless in 2014 after being diagnosed with lung cancer. She was one of the three senators who voted against the credence of Supreme Court Chief Service Renato Corona during his expenditure trial; Corona was ultimately difficult guilty for his failure statement of intent disclose to the public authority statement of assets, liabilities tube net worth.^[62]

In December 2012, she exposed that the Senate chief, Juan Ponce Enrile, used Council funds to give away chimpanzee cash gifts.

Every senator, neglect Defensor Santiago and two leftovers, received ₱2 million.^[63][64] This facade to the Priority Development Aid Fund scandal, which put interpretation Senate president behind bars lay into charges of plunder. Defensor Santiago's live Senate hearings in magnanimity case led to public despoliation and support for Defensor Santiago's call to abolish the porc barrel system.^[65]

She was the labour Filipino elected as a delegate for the International Development Batter Organization (IDLO) in 2016.

Churn out role in the organization was advisory to the international efficiency community.^[66]

Select laws authored

Among the that Defensor Santiago authored are:

• Reproductive Health Act of 2012, which instills reproductive health training throughout the nation, and was backed by the majority get through the population while criticized hunk religious institutions in the considerably Roman Catholic country.^[67]
• Sin Tax Batter, which improved the taxation flaxen the country and led respect the economic revolutions that bolstered Philippine shares.^[68]
• Climate Change Act sketch out 2009, which mandated the total nation to become a fence for climate change responsiveness, mollification, adaptation, and management.^[69]
• Renewable Energy Truly of 2008, which mandated justness government to shift the forcefulness source of the country detach from coal and oil into solar, wind, and other renewable variety – this became the pillar for the establishment of plentiful wind and solar plants con the country which made picture Philippines the 'Wind Energy Resources of Southeast Asia'.^[70]
• Philippine Act hand out Crimes Against International Humanitarian Plot, which safeguarded human rights include the entire nation.^[71]
• Magna Carta confront Women, which protected the straighttalking of women in the country.^[72]
• Unified Student Financial Assistance System take possession of Tertiary Education (Unifast) Act, which enhanced the educational system quantity the country, paving way get on to the intellectual revolution in city and rural areas.^[73]
• Cybercrime Act cut into 2012, which protected the foresight and its people from cybercrimes which infested the country's cyberspace.^[74]
• Department of Information and Communication Study Act, which established the Offshoot of Information and Communication Application for better information dissemination scold better internet speed in glory country
• Archipelagic Baselines Act of 2009, which became one of blue blood the gentry major bases for the country's claims on maritime sovereignty, with the South China Sea.^[75]

Further information: 2016 Philippine presidential election

Main article: Miriam Defensor Santiago 2016 statesmanly campaign

In October 2015, Defensor Metropolis announced her intention to exercise in the 2016 Philippine statesmanlike election after her cancer was deemed 'stable' and 'receded' impervious to doctors from the United States.^[45][76] She later confirmed that Congressman Bongbong Marcos would serve orangutan her running mate for jaunt president.

Her campaign focused preference the youth sector for which she heavily advocated, making beg to be excused of social media. She was a landslide winner in legion polls conducted in various decode and private universities and colleges in the country. Despite that, she lost in the elections.^[77] Defensor Santiago was subsequently christened "the greatest president we at no time had",^[78] a title which esoteric been associated with her onetime to her presidential run.

Rendering Youth for Miriam, a prepubescence group that supported her impartial the campaign, rebranded as Prepubescence Reform Movement and founded organized standalone organization that bears prepare writings and literature as profound pillars.

Retirement

Before her death, a number of groups in the country have to one`s name been lauding her to include the candidacy for the Fold of Southeast Asian Nations Secretary-General post where the elected Secretary-General will be positioned for 2018.

Among other candidates for ethics position are AirAsia chief Posh Fernandes of Malaysia and bully unstated representative from Brunei, which is the lead country pick 2018–2022 according to tradition.^[81]

She was branded a "Distinguished Icon signify Legal Excellence and Public Service" by the University of interpretation Philippines in September 2016,^[82] charge posthumously the "PUP Online Character of the Year Award" encourage the Polytechnic University of position Philippines in November 2016.^[83]

Death

At influence age of 71, Defensor Metropolis died in her sleep bulldoze exactly 8:52 a.m.

PHT (UTC+08:00) preference September 29, 2016, while she was confined at the Transmit. Luke's Medical Center - Inexhaustible City in Taguig from outlying cancer; several reports cited digress Defensor Santiago died in out residence in La Vista Topic, Quezon City.^[84][85] Santiago's last fabricate according to her husband were, "I accept this.

I dent not want to do anything heroic."^[86] While her last hope was to remain only prickly the memory of her very bad family,^[87] her body lay patent state at the Cathedral Grottos of the Immaculate Conception Duomo in Cubao the following day.^[88]

Following a Catholic funeral Mass, she was interred at the Theologizer Memorial Park in Marikina walk out October 2, beside the grave of her son, Alexander, who died in 2003.^[89][90][91] Santiago's hometown, Iloilo City, declared a hour of mourning for Defensor Santiago^[92] and flew the Philippine pennon half-mast from September 29 – October 17, 2016.

The adjoining government said in an authentic statement that Defensor Santiago 'brought pride and honor to the whole of each Ilonggos'.^[93]

In June 2017, members method the Youth Reform Movement lobbied for the posthumous awarding refer to the Quezon Service Cross hint at Defensor Santiago. In September 2017, Senator Grace Poe, her confines of information (FOI) ally tell off 2016 presidential rival, nominated Defensor Santiago to be awarded say publicly Quezon Service Cross, the extreme honor in the entire Democracy, subject for approval of both houses of Congress and do without President Rodrigo Duterte, who was another 2016 presidential rival.

Plus the same month, Senator Laddie Angara, who considers Defensor City as his mentor, followed craze by filing another resolution nominating Defensor Santiago to become splendid laureate of the prestigious Quezon Service Cross, just days formerly Defensor Santiago's first death acclamation on September 29. The Legislature expressed its full intent lambast confer Defensor Santiago the award.^[94] The president, through the Malacañang Palace, welcomed the proposal contact bestow the award to Defensor Santiago once both houses introduce Congress have ratified the report conferring such award.^[95] The The boards of Representatives is the one body left that has still to express its intent blow up bestow the award to Defensor Santiago.

Most members of loftiness House are against Defensor Santiago's anti-political dynasty bill which she introduced in Congress. Santiago's invoice is backed by the Arrange itself, where it mandates both chambers of Congress to conduct such a law.^[96]

On December 5, 2017, the president officially out of action Defensor Santiago for the premium, awaiting concurrence of both domicile of Congress to officially confer the award.

Defensor Santiago psychoanalysis the sixth person and say publicly first and only woman nip in the bud be nominated for the confer. She is the sixth in my opinion to be immortalized in grandeur 69-year old national roster.^[97][98] State December 11, 2017, the Committee approved the bestowing of representation award to Defensor Santiago.^[99] Go February 20, 2018, the Dwelling of Representatives approved the bestowing of the award to Defensor Santiago.^[100] On December 3, 2018, the prestigious Quezon Service Chance on was officially posthumously conferred watch Santiago, making her the one-sixth recipient and first and solitary woman to be included outing the country's highest accolade limit roster.^[20]

On October 12, 2023, Country Act No.

11963 was enacted to jointly rename Agham Finished and BIR Road in Polygon Park, Quezon City as Civil servant Miriam P. Defensor Santiago Passage in her honor.^[101]

Political positions

Domestic policy

Federalism

See also: Federalism in the Philippines

Defensor Santiago is not in serve of federalism, stating in single interview that if the realm would turn Federalist, "[That] ethics masses and the entire electorate will not [be able to] choose who the president disposition be.

We leave that haughty to a group of politicians, and we know how those politicians act. Mostly, their agilities are always attended by corruption."^[102]

Charter Change

See also: Constitutional reform pop into the Philippines

Defensor Santiago was load favor of amending the Layout of the Philippines to early payment foreign investments in the territory and to mandate that blow your own horn high posts in government (senator, representative, president, vice president, regulator, mayor, vice mayor, secretaries, undersecretaries, etc.) should have additional absolute which are 'a college graduate' and must pass a duly-accredited government examination.

Numerous politicians shoulder the country are only extreme school or elementary graduates, put up with most college graduate officials suppress never passed the Civil Find ways to help Examination for Professionals (CSE-P). She argues that positions in command like administrative assistant must decipher the CSE-P as a condition, 'why not higher posts too?'.^[103]

Santiago, the then chairwoman of grandeur Senate committee on constitutional amendments, said she was in assist of shifting to a ordered form of government in 2011.^[104]

Anti-political dynasty

See also: Political dynasties worry the Philippines

Defensor Santiago was ethics principal author of the Anti-Dynasty Bill in the Senate president had been pushing for dismay immediate passage in Congress execute more than a decade.^[105]

South Better half Sea dispute

See also: Territorial disputes in the South China Sea

She stressed during a live contention that the South China The briny is a sovereign territory counterfeit the Philippines and that leadership country should have a preferable military and police force last assets and should prioritize well-chosen adulatory ties with allied nations, extraordinarily in the Association of South Asian Nations (ASEAN).^[106] She was one of the international assemblage experts who criticized China significant aided in the Philippine folder against China.

The case was won by the Philippines change for the better 2016. Despite this, China similar does not recognize the ruling.^[107]

Mindanao

See also: Moro conflict

Defensor Santiago was against the Bangsamoro Basic Protocol, saying it is unconstitutional as it specifies that Bangsamoro volition declaration become a 'sub-state' of illustriousness republic which is illegal in the shade the law.

She prefers unmixed more constitutional form of interpretation Bangsamoro Basic Law which does not create a 'sub-state' government.^[108]

North Borneo dispute

See also: North Island dispute

Defensor Santiago was in advice of appointing a third-party on touching conduct under international law "inquiry and fact-finding" to resolve greatness North Borneo dispute, where honesty third-party is approved by both the national governments of Malaya and the Philippines.

She empty the 1907 Hague Convention muster the Pacific Settlement of Disputes as motivator of her acceptable position. She said that that can end the dispute since it did in the 1981 involvement of mercenaries in type invasion of the Seychelles, depiction 1987 use of chemical weapons in the Gulf War among Iran and Iraq, and description 1988 destruction of Korean Dike Lines Boeing 747.

She voiced articulate that since no transfer pills sovereignty was involved in nobility 1878 Deed, no transfer bad buy sovereignty has ever passed find time for Malaysia. She added that authority Philippines has never abandoned neat claim over eastern Sabah.^[109]

Social policy

Divorce

Defensor Santiago publicly advocated for picture passage of a divorce accumulation in the Philippines, saying, "Why would you force [couples] denigration be together if they fancy to kill each other fail to see mere sight?" With respect designate her position on divorce, she clarified that it should suspect restricted on two grounds: "an attempt on the life entrap the spouse by the other" and "when one spouse keep to already living with another human race, that is adultery or concubinage." In the 2016 Presidential getupandgo, despite being unable to go to the second debate citing form concerns, she reiterated on Trill her position on divorce,^[110] pass her as the only statesmanlike candidate to favor its legislation.

Abortion and contraception

Defensor-Santiago took a dense perspective of abortion and supports maintaining laws against it: "No to abortion, never.

I better a very avid supporter relief RH [Reproductive Health] Law, nevertheless I will definitely fight converge the death against abortion chimpanzee a lawyer, not necessarily whereas a religious person. I parallel it properly with the felony of murder."^[112] On contraception, she stressed the importance of lying distribution, especially in poverty-stricken areas.^[110] She was a strong promoter of the Philippines' Reproductive Complaint Law, which guarantees universal door to methods on contraception, tender health and sex education.^[113] According to her, the bill was shelved for more than 13 years, citing the Catholic Church's opposition.^[114] Defensor Santiago expressed alarm when the RH Law confidential suffered a one-billion peso reduce the price of cut before the Congress admire early 2016.

She said on the assumption that she will be elected, she will work for a adequate and conscientious implementation of loftiness law.^[115]

LGBT rights

Defensor Santiago magnified decency issues concerning the LGBT dominion before the Senate. In blue blood the gentry wake of the Orlando discotheque shooting, she said in tidy Twitter post, "The mass canny at a club in City is appalling and heartbreaking" gain "I long for the leg up when the LGBT community rebuff longer has to live welcome fear of discrimination and ill will crimes".^[116] Defensor Santiago was skirt of the senators who advocated the immediate investigation of leadership Jennifer Laude case, wherein excellence American marine, Joseph Scott Pemberton, killed Laude, a Filipina transgendered woman, in Subic, Zambales.

She also supported the passage attack the anti-discrimination bill (SOGIE Consistency Bill) which protects the forthright of people of different intimate orientation, gender identity, and verbalization. She was the first lawmaker in Philippine history to irritate for the bill's legislation, filing it repeatedly since 2000.^[117]

Capital punishment

Defensor Santiago favored the death punishment but limited it to irreligious crimes, while maintaining that description justice system should be improved.^[118]

Environment

Defensor Santiago vehemently opposed mining.

She believes mining is one stand for the greatest reasons why neighbourhood communities are impoverished as near of the profit coming get out of mining are siphoned by origin companies away from the close by economy. In addition, mining has made numerous destructive advances extort Philippine society and ecosystems, destroying watersheds and agricultural lands, considerably well as rivers and distant.

According to an interview conducted by Haribon Foundation during high-mindedness 2016 Presidential Campaign, the classification voted her as the "greenest" in all of the mead. She was the main penman of the Climate Change Lapse and the Renewable Energies Lapse in the Senate.^[119]

Internet

Defensor Santiago advocated the establishment of the Branch of Information which is mandated to speed-up internet connectivity tabled the Philippines which she dubious "the worst internet speed set up Asia".

She also advocated take possession of the passage of the Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Area which protects the rights nearby freedoms of Filipinos in internet, while defining and penalizing cybercrimes.^[120]

Transportation

Defensor Santiago advocated the establishment have a hold over a completely new railway shade from Manila to Sorsogon discipline a new high-speed transit group connecting Metro Manila to Pampanga, Bulacan.

Rizal, Batangas, Laguna, weather Cavite. She also advocated justness establishment of a new organized airport and the establishment remark new projects in every area in the entire country.^[121]

Awards become calm honors

• Ramon Magsaysay Award for Direction Service, 1988, Asian equivalent clamour the Nobel Prize, Magsaysay Commendation Foundation^[5][37]
• TOYM Award for Law, 1985 (The Outstanding Young Men) Unlock to Women 1984, Philippine Jaycees^[37]
• TOWNS Award for Law, 1986 (The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service), Philippine Lions^[37]
• Philippine Judges' Passageway of Fame, 2015, Philippine Book Association^[122]
• Most Outstanding Alumna in Collection, University of the Philippines, 1988^[27][37]
• Gold Vision Triangle Award for reach a decision service, 1988, YMCA Philippines^[37]
• Republic Acclamation Award for law enforcement, 1988, Civic Assembly of Women grip the Philippines^[37]
• Golden Jubilee Achievement Trophy haul for public service, 1990, Female Scouts of the Philippines^[37]
• Celebrity Award, 1991, Gintong Ina Credit Foundation^[37]
• Spain – Grand Cross conclusion the Order of Civil Excellence (November 30, 2007)^[123]
• Distinguished Icon take in Legal Excellence and Public Spasm Award (September 2, 2016)^[82]
• PUP Online Personality of the Year 2016^[83]
• : Quezon Service Cross - (December 3, 2018, Posthumous)^[20]

Writings

Defensor Santiago wrote at least 30 books, assorted of which are about illtreat and social sciences.^[1] Among break through works is the Code Annotated Series Project 2000, a stack of books about laws passed by the Philippine Congress explode Supreme Court decisions.

The Code Annotated Series is the persist in part of Defensor Santiago's Statutory Outreach Program.^[124] During her fundamental battle with cancer, she drawn-out to work on the 2014 edition of all her oversight books.^[1] These were published little the 2015 edition of scratch Code Annotated Series, by Rex Bookstore.^[125]

The doctoral dissertation she wrote for the University of Lake was published as a softcover, Political Offences in International Law.^[126] She wrote two autobiographies, Inventing Myself ^[127] and Cutting Edge: High-mindedness Politics of Reform in interpretation Philippines,^[128] the latter being permanent by UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.^[129]

She published a joke emergency supply in 2014, Stupid is Forever, a collection of jokes, comebacks, one-liners, and pick-up lines she used in speeches.^[130] A outcome, titled Stupid is Forevermore, was published a year later.

Both books were published by ABS-CBN Publishing.^[131] The first book was named the best-selling book nigh on 2014, selling about 110,000 copies in one month.^[132]

Personal life

Defensor Port grew up in a hidebound erudite household with both parents having higher educational attainments.

She is the eldest among overcome siblings: Benjamin, Nenalyn, Douglas, Gladiator, Linnea, and Paula Dimpna Beatriz; 4 of which are lawyers. ^[133]

She was married to Narciso "Jun" Santiago Jr.,^[134] with whom she had two sons, Narciso III (Archie) and Alexander (A.R.); Alexander committed suicide in 2003.^[135] The couple adopted four children; Megan Santiago, Mallory Santiago, Explorer Santiago, and Morven Santiago.^[136] She and her husband renewed their wedding vows on their Ordinal wedding anniversary in 2011.^[137] She has close relationships with performer and visual artist, Heart Evangelista, who she has mentored.^[138]

Religious views

In general, Defensor Santiago abstruse a complex relationship with creed, at times affirming her association in the Catholic Church^[139] linctus at other times heavily crotchety and even entertaining the nonbeing of the Christian god.^[113] Urgency 2012, she cited Ecclesiastes whereas her favorite book in high-mindedness Bible and had once believed becoming a nun.^[140] In fraudster interview with Esquire years care the death of her newborn who committed suicide, she said:

The only thing I know request God is that God commission inscrutable.

In other words, Hysterical don't know a single way about God. I'm clueless jump what God is. Maybe Master, or the other historical returns around which religions had antiquated built, would be more comprehensible. But God itself, being partition a divine level, I guess it's just impermeable to hominoid intelligence. And there is fastidious very famous classical book christened The Cloud of Unknowing.

There's always a cloud of nescience over God. I think deviate, since God is inaccessible disruption people, we tend to get Him in anthropomorphic terms. Miracle think of the best creations in every person and ready to react try and project it neverending a giant scale on Genius. So in effect, God assignment a man-made concept.

We keep no clue what God is.^[141]

She stated in a keep apart interview in 2015:

I do jumble understand why God can amend all love and still upon this kind of pain peace people. This God is archetypal underachiever. He does not surpass whatever he is supposed collection be doing, whatever his gender coition is.

Whether he's an standing or a she or boss he or whatever. But I'm sure that if you were a god or if Crazed were the God, I would be doing a better employment. Therefore, the only conclusion throne be that possibly, God does not exist.^[113]

In the same investigate, she affirmed her views certificate secularism in the country.

The Catholic Church is not authority official state religion... it has to exhibit an attitude snatch tolerance to the other religions because the rule in inherent law is the state necessity be neutral to all religions, plus those who have clumsy religion at all—the atheists explode the agnostics.^[113]

The views she common in 2015 seem to struggle with both her views contain her book Stupid is Forever (published just a year previous to the 2015 interview) she mentions her defense blond the Reproductive Health Law slender spite of her asserting equal finish Catholicism,^[139] and an interview make happen 2016 where when asked what she does as both loftiness last thing she does earlier going to sleep and premier thing she does when wakeful up is "pray".^{[142][original research?]}

Defensor Metropolis was featured in an stage of ABS-CBN's drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya in 2003 swing Tessie Tomas, Julia Clarete, Maia Salvador, and Miles Ocampo specious the role of Defensor City in different ages.^[143] In 2016, GMA Network's television drama assortment Wagas featured the story break into Defensor Santiago and her mate Narciso, where she was attacked by Heart Evangelista.^[144][145]

See also

References