MANILA, Philippines—Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Friday conveyed her intention to finish her term despite battling lung cancer on condition that she will be granted qualified medical leave.
“I told you in a previous circular letter that according to the Civil Service Commission, it is the Senate which decides on how long an official leave from office can take,” Santiago told her colleagues in a letter addressed to Senate President Franklin Drilon.
“In effect, I would like to tell you that I have decided to remain in office until the end of my term in 2016, on condition that I shall be on qualified medical leave,” Santiago said in the letter, a copy of which was emailed to reporters.
“This qualification is to allow me to discharge, on a certain priority basis, my important functions as senator, particularly as committee chair, for as long as I am allowed to do so by my condition,” Santiago said.
Santiago chairs the Senate committee on foreign relations.
The senator was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and has been undergoing treatment with a panel of doctor from St. Luke’s Global City and Makati Medical Center. Santiago had asked for qualified medical leave last year, which allows her to carry out her duties when allowed by her doctors and by her physical medical condition.
“In the near future, I plan to go to Los Angeles and New York, particularly to the Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center, for second opinions or further treatment. Cancer is characterized by pain, bleeding, and fatigue,” she said.
“I hope you will have no objection to my work plan,” she added.
Despite her illness, Santiago said she was able to achieve certain official duties in 2014. She presided over various hearings in the Senate, delivered privilege speeches on the floor, participated in plenary debates on the proposed Freedom of Information bill, and filed 118 bills and 264 resolutions.
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