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Miriam Defensor-Santiago

The Honorable
Miriam Defensor Santiago
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.jpg
Senator of the Philippines
In office
30 June 2004 – 30 June 2016
In office
30 June 1995 – 30 June 2001
Judge of the International Criminal Court
In office
December 2012 – 3 June 2014
Nominated by Philippines
Chair of the Philippine Senate
Foreign Relations Committee
In office
July 22, 2013 – June 30, 2016
Preceded by Loren Legarda
Succeeded by Alan Peter Cayetano
Secretary of Agrarian Reform
In office
20 July 1989 – 4 January 1990
President Corazon Aquino
Preceded by Philip Juico
Succeeded by Florencio Abad
Personal details
Born Miriam Palma Defensor
(1945-06-15)15 June 1945
Iloilo City, Philippine Commonwealth
Died 29 September 2016(2016-09-29) (aged 71)
Quezon City, Philippines
Cause of death Lung cancer
Resting place Loyola Memorial Park, Marikina, Philippines
Political party People's Reform Party
Spouse(s) Narciso Santiago (m. 1970)
Children 6
Alma mater University of the Philippines, Visayas
University of the Philippines, Diliman
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Maryhill School of Theology
Website Official website

Miriam Palma Defensor Santiago (15 June 1945 – 29 September 2016) was a Filipino politician and judge, who 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. Santiago was named one of The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World in 1997 by The Australian magazine.

In 1988, Santiago 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." She ran in the 1992 presidential elections but was defeated in an election marred by allegations of impropriety by the victor. The quote, 'Miriam won in the elections, but lost in the counting.' became popular nationwide.

Santiago became senator of the republic in 1995 and authored the most number of laws and bills in the entire history of the Philippines. She ran again for president in the 1998 presidential elections but lost after heavy black propaganda against her which were eventually proven false. She continued her work as senator - exposed and lambasted numerous government scandals, such as the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam, which led to massive outrage and triggered major reforms throughout the country. She became an icon of incorruptibility, honest government service, and constitutional law. She was given numerous awards and recognition for her fight against corruption in the country.

In 2012, Santiago became the first Filipina and the first Asian from a developing country to be elected a judge of the International Criminal Court. She later resigned the post, citing chronic fatigue syndrome, which turned out to be lung cancer. In 2016, she became part of the International Advisory Council of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), an intergovernmental body that promotes the rule of law.


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