MANILA - Former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who is battling lung cancer, is currently confined in the hospital, but is not in intensive care.

On Facebook, her daughter-in-law Mechel Santiago said Sunday that the former lawmaker has been confined in a private room at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig City.

However, she also clarified that her mother-in-law is not in the intensive care unit (ICU), contrary to earlier reports.

"She is currently being treated for her cancer and the family is hoping that she will fully recover. Thank you for respecting our privacy in the meantime. Thank you for continuously praying for her," Mechel wrote on her Facebook post.

Santiago's family is also confident that she will win in her bout against stage 4 lung cancer.

"She loves all of you. She is a fighter and will continuously fight this battle!" Mechel added.

Last May, the senator was admitted to the ICU of the Makati Medical Center due to pneumonia, a complication from her cancer. She was discharged a week later.

Santiago first announced on July 2, 2014 that she had been diagnosed with cancer.

Over a year after her announcement, she declared in October 2015 that she would seek the presidency for the third time after having supposedly "conquered" cancer.

READ: Miriam: 'I will never quit!'

She was, however, not active in the campaign trail with her running mate, Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

She lost in the presidential race dominated by then Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: Miriam Santiago on election loss: That's life