MIRIAM SANTIAGO

(ABS-CBN News, Based on Research by ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group)

Miriam Defensor-Santiago was born in June 15, 1945 in Iloilo City to parents Benjamin A. Defensor (former district judge) and Dimpna Palma Defensor.

Santiago grew up an academic achiever, graduating as top of her class in
La Paz Elementary School (1951-1957) and at the Iloilo Provincial National High School (1957-1961). She was also Magna Cum Laude at the B.A. Political Science program at the University of the Philippines Diliman, (1961-1965).

She passed the bar in 1969, and got 76 percent, with 56 percent in ethics subject.

Santiago earned more degrees over the years, namely: (Master of Arts in Religious Studies, Maryhill School of Theology, 1996); (Master of Laws, University of Michigan, 1975); Doctor of Human Letters (honoris causa), University of San Agustin); Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), Xavier University, Ateneo de Cagayan de Oro, 1989 Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), Centro Escolar University, 1989; Doctor of Juridical Science, University of Michigan, 1976.

Santiago began her career in civil service and served in various positions in the pre- and post-EDSA government. She was a columnist for various dailies and involved in international development organizations. She also taught law subjects in different universities.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

This is Santiago’s third attempt at clinching the presidency, as she had run twice before for the highest post in the land: in the 1992 and 1998 elections.

Santiago first entered politics in 1992 when she ran as president under the People’s Reform Party (PRP) where she lost to former President Fidel V. Ramos. Santiago claimed that she had been cheated.

In 1995, Santiago ran as a senator under the PRP and won. As a senator, she authored more than 600 bills and resolutions.

She ran again as president in 1998 but only placed seventh in the final election tally. In 2001, she lost her re-election bid for senator. She ran again as senator in 2004 and won under then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s K4 coalition.

In 2010, she ran again as a senator and won under the PRP.

On October 13, 2015, she announced her plan to run for president again. Two days later, she declared Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. as her running mate. This declaration drew mixed reactions from her supporters. Santiago filed her certificate of candidacy for president on October 16, 2015.

She is currently the chairman of the Senate committees on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes and Foreign Relations, the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Overseas Voting Acts of 2013, and the Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement.

She previously chaired the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Automated Election System, the Senate Special Oversight Committee on Economic Affairs, and the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs.

CONTROVERSIES:

PHYSICAL HEALTH

• In June 2014, Santiago was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. A year later, she announced that the cancer growth in her lung “has been arrested” and that she was considering running for President. Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio asked Santiago to release her medical records to prove she was treated but the senator refused, citing her right to privacy.

TEAMING UP WITH BONGBONG MARCOS

• On October 15, 2015, Santiago announced that Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be her running mate. She also stated that the Marcoses do not owe the Filipinos an apology. Her choice for running mate and her statement drew mixed reactions from her supporters and the public in general.

STAND ON THE BBL

• Santiago, who chairs the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, stated in her committee report submitted to the Senate Committee on Local Government (chaired by Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.) that the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) should be “substantially revised” in order to pass legal scrutiny.

MENTAL HEALTH

• Santiago was branded “Brenda,” short for “brain damage,” because of her rumored mental health issues. It started in the 1992 presidential election when she was rumored to be seeing a psychiatrist. It resurfaced in 2001, at the height of EDSA 3, when she said, “I will jump headfirst from a helicopter in Luneta if Estrada gets removed from power.” In an interview after President Joseph Ejercito Estrada was indeed ousted, she said “I lied” and laughed. This quote had often been parodied since then.
• In a privilege speech answering the allegations Santiago hurled at him, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile said Santiago admitted to him that she was once under the care of a psychiatrist at the Makati Medical Center.

STAND DURING THE CORONA IMPEACHMENT TRIAL

• On May 29, 2012, Santiago along with Senators Marcos and Arroyo, voted to acquit former Chief Justice Renato C. Corona on Article 2 of the impeachment complaint filed by the House of Representatives. Santiago said that the omission of certain information on Corona’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth is not impeachable.

THE DEATH OF HER SON

• On November 20, 2003, Santiago’s youngest son Alexander committed suicide at age 22.
• When asked about the death of her son in an interview with Korina Sanchez in 2012, Santiago answered, “I do not understand why God can be all love and still inflict this kind of pain on people. This God is an underachiever. He does not do whatever he is supposed to be doing, whatever his sex is. Whether he's an it or a she or a he or whatever. But I'm sure that if you were a god or if I were the God, I would be doing a better job.” Her answer was considered as blasphemous by her critics.

STAND DURING THE ESTRADA IMPEACHMENT TRIAL

• In January 2001, during the impeachment trial of President Joseph E. Estrada, Santiago was among the few senator-judges who voted not to open the second envelope allegedly containing evidence against the President. The prosecutors of the trial walked out after the Senate ruled not to open the envelope, triggering the second EDSA People Power that would oust Estrada. Santiago claimed that because of her decision not to open the second envelope, she received a lot of flak from people such as DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman “and her ilk” who, she said, “have felt free to denounce my integrity."

1992 PRESIDENTIAL BID AND CLAIMS OF BEING CHEATED

• Santiago was leading during the first five days of canvassing against Fidel V. Ramos, who was endorsed by then President Corazon Aquino. Ramos started to overtake Santiago as the votes from the provinces trickled in. She claimed that the results were manipulated because of massive power outages in many parts of the country. To protest the official count, Santiago went on a hunger strike. ,
• Santiago filed an election protest before the Supreme Court, which acts as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, citing power outages as evidence.
• On. Feb. 13, 1996, Santiago’s election protest was dismissed by the Supreme Court for becoming “moot and academic” as a consequence of Santiago’s “election and assumption of office as Senator.” Thereby causing her “abandonment or withdrawal” of the election protest.

ALLEGED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST HER

• During a speaking tour in Tarlac in April 1991, a car rammed Santiago’s vehicle at the side where she was seated. She sustained life-threatening injuries that rendered her immobile. She underwent surgery and survived. She would later describe it as an assassination attempt.

GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Pre-EDSA
1970-1980	Special Assistant to the Justice Secretary
1977-1979	Member, Board of Censors for Motion Pictures.
1982-1983	Legal Consultant, Philippine Embassy, Washington DC, USA
1983 -1987	Presiding Judge, Regional Trial Court, Branch 106 Quezon City
Post-EDSA
1988	Commissioner, Commission of Immigration and Deportation.
1988-1991	Member of the Board of Directors, Public Estates Authority
1989	Member of the Board of Directors, Ninoy Aquino International Airport Authority
1989	Member of the Board of Directors, Philippine Retirement Authority
1989	Member of the Board of Directors, Land Bank of the Philippines
1989-1990	Member of the Board of Directors, Land Bank of the Philippines
As an educator
1971-1974	Lecturer, Law, Trinity College of Quezon City
1976-1988	Lecturer, University of the Philippines College of Law
1981-1983	Legal Consultant, University of the Philippines Law Center
As a columnist
1972 to 1975	Philippine Daily Express
1978 to 1979 and 1985-1988	Philippine Panorama
International work
1989-1990	Legal Officer, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva, Switzerland

 

MIRIAM SANTIAGO

MIRIAM SANTIAGO

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has authored the most number of bills and resolutions in the Senate. She authored policy measures that support her advocacies on fighting corruption, social inequality, women empowerment, foreign policy, environment and health. Among the notable bills she filed are the following:

• On women empowerment: Magna Carta of Women, a women’s human rights law that aims to eliminate discrimination against women) ; Reproductive Health Act, which seeks to empower Filipino women especially those in the marginalized sector by giving them the freedom of informed choice on their reproductive rights; Safe Haven Bill, which caters to women unprepared or unfit for mother hood, while ensuring the safety of their babies; and Battered Women’s Testimony Bill, which seeks to facilitate the use of expert testimonies in cases of women subjected to domestic violence.
• Renewable Energy Law- provides support to local government units for rebates, incentives, and loans to individuals or entities in order for them to acquire solar energy systems in the Philippines.
• Sin Tax Law- an act restructuring the excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products.
• During the height of investigation on the corruption allegations against Vice President Binay, she authored PEP or Politically Exposed Person Watch Act (Senate Bill No. 2438), which seeks to expand the responsibilities of banks in avoiding money laundering activities.
• Climate Change Act- created the Climate Change Commission that monitors, coordinates, and evaluates programs on climate change.
• Anti-Photo and Voyeurism Act-an act prohibiting the distribution of photo or video of a person performing sexual act or any activity capturing an image of a private area.
• Anti-Political Dynasty Bill- seeks to prohibit relatives up to second degree of consanguinity to hold or run for both local and national office.
• Anti-EPAL Bill- seeks to ban politicians from taking credits on government signage public works projects.