Bill seeks to rename Agham, BIR Roads in QC into Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago Avenue

In this file photo, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago appears as guest in an Inquirer multimedia forum in September 2017 (File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Senators Sonny Angara, Alan Peter Cayetano and Manuel “Lito” Lapid want to change the names of Agham and BIR Roads in Quezon City to Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago Avenue.

They filed Senate Bill No. 1888 on February 15 to honor the Iron Lady of Asia, who died in 2016.

“She showcased exceptional leadership, love for her country, and a commitment to excellence through outstanding contributions as a respected legal luminary,”  the bill’s explanatory note read.

The authors likewise said that Defensor-Santiago “dedicated her life to serving the public, displaying a remarkable record of achievement in all three branches of government.”

Senator Defensor-Santiago had a very long and successful career. She was a senator for three terms, and she was the head of two important departments.

She was also the first Filipino and the first person from Southeast Asia to become a judge at the International Criminal Court.

The senator was so well respected that she was even given a very special award, the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service.

Defensor-Santiago passed away on September 29, 2016 at the age of 71 due to complications from lung cancer.

JPV/abc