By the time this piece comes out, the tributes would have overflowed and would still keep on coming for Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who was confirmed to have passed away at St. Luke’s- Global before 9 a.m. Thursday.
There’s no debate that she had been quite an imposing figure in the country’s political history; and even if her influence had waned through the years, she found another audience that enthusiastically supported her campaign, the Philippine youth, whom she touched base with through pickup lines and love advice.
She may be quite the feisty, vocal firecracker during two impeachment trials of a president and a sitting chief justice, but as her rapport with the country’s youth showed, she is quite accessible when she wants to be.
Santiago ran thrice for the presidency, the first run being her closest to a win that was eventually taken away from her by former president Fidel V. Ramos, whom she would grill in a Senate hearing years after he stepped down from power.
She would never be able to make it all the way to Malacañang, much to the regret of her staunchest supporters, but Santiago did manage to make allies/friends of two men who would eventually win the presidency, former president Joseph Estrada and incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte.
Not that she needed them to establish herself, being a tough-talking judge and then an equally tough-talking immigration commissioner in the ’80s. But while she built an impressive political career for herself, not everything was a rosy journey to success.
Those who supported the impeachment of both former president Joseph Estrada and the late chief justice Renato Corona were both impressed yet antagonistic towards her eventual favorable ruling for both men as she dismissed evidence built against them, with the second envelope of Estrada’s trial being the more infamous.
Yet she also had her shining moments, specifically her efforts to lead the successful passage of the Reproductive Health Law and support for the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill.
Even before Mr. Duterte stood up to American political dominance in the country, Santiago was among those who questioned the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) between the Philippines and the US since it didn’t pass Senate review.
A presidential bid that was headed to defeat due to her fragile health may have written her off political career, but it should also be noted that she pursued her campaign even if she could have become a judge in the international court.
Whatever one thinks about the late senator, including her failings and missed opportunities, it can be said at this time with certainty that Filipinos look on her with more favor and fondness and not just because out of respect for her and her family. Santiago is etched in the country’s history and nothing can change that.