Senate issues profound sympathy on Santiago’s death
THE Senate has adopted a resolution expressing its profound sympathy and sincere condolences on the death of former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago due to lung cancer.
READ: Miriam Defensor-Santiago passes away at 71
All 24 senators were present when the chamber passed Senate Resolution 170. Although it was filed by Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, all other senators were made co-authors of the resolution.
“As a student of law, I deemed it a privilege to sponsor this resolution in honor of the best teacher, we’ve ever had, the honorable Miriam Defensor-Santiago,” said Pimentel, who was a student of the late senator at the UP College of Law.
“Senator Miriam was so versatile and so involved in a variety of subjects, affecting our country that she is credited to have filed the most number of bills and resolutions a record 1,671,” he said.
Pimentel noted that worldwide, the late senator was known as the “Incorruptible Lady,” “The Platinum and Tiger Lady” and “The Tiger of Asia.”
“We all differ in how we want to remember Senator Santiago, as her former student, I choose to immortalize her by the lessons I have learned from her life and example…”
“Thank you, teacher Senator Miriam, for what you’ve done for us, your students, your colleagues in the Senate and your countrymen,” the Senate leader added.
Senators Joel Villanueva, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Manny Pacquiao also stood up to pay their tributes to Santiago.
“Dr. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was a great leader and a lawmaker, a source of pride and inspiration to every Filipino. To our young people, she was a “rock star” – not only because of her wit and sense of humor but also because of her bold and moral leadership,” Villanueva said.
His said his advocacies and attributes as a public officials was “hugely influenced” by Santiago, whom he said he first met when he was a first termer and the youngest member of the House of Representatives.
“Hence, I was truly honored and humbled by her endorsement in the recent senatorial race. I owe her my victory; I believe her influence on millennials and the youth sector will last for a very long time,” said the neophyte senator.
“Hindi madaling muli tayong makakita ng isang Miriam Defensor-Santiago, ng isang “rock star” sa larangan ng pulitika, na magbibigay inspirasyon at impluwensiya sa ating tumayo at magsalita para sa kapakanan ng bayan, at huwag matakot na ipaglaban ang katotohanan, katarungan at katwiran,” Villanueva added./rga
READ: Senators remember Miriam Santiago as an idol, inspiration
