Malacañang on Thursday expressed sympathies to the family of former Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who passed away on Thursday morning after battling lung cancer.
‘We condole with families and friends,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing.
Abella said Santiago was a “shining light” in Philippine politics.
“She was a shining light in Philippine political annals for her sharp legal mind, uncompromising stand and acid humor,” Abella said.
“She had profound influence on the millennials and the youth, constantly challenging preconceived notions both political and social,” he added.
READ: Miriam’s last words: ‘I accept this. I don’t want to do anything heroic’
Palace said the death of the former senator “signals the passing of an era of politicians with wide ranging intelligence and courage to express their true conviction.”
Her husband, Narciso “Jun” Santiago, told the Inquirer her wife passed away at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City, where she had been in and out of due to complications of her ailment. Santiago was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2014.
“She died this morning in her sleep, she was unconscious when she passed away,” he told the Inquirer. CDG/rga
READ: Miriam Defensor-Santiago passes away at 71