Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
The life of former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago serves as an inspiration to the Filipinos, particularly to the women and the youth, Vice President Leni Robredo said Thursday.
Robredo expressed her sympathy on the death of Santiago, 71, who passed away Thursday morning after battling stage four lung cancer.
READ: Miriam Defensor-Santiago passes away at 71
“We join the nation today as we mourn the passing of former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. We thank her and her family for her long career in public service,” Robredo said in a statement.
“May her life serve as inspiration and example to women, the youth and to all our fellow Filipinos. May she rest in peace,” said Robredo.
Santiago’s husband Narciso “Jun” Santiago said she died in her sleep while she was confined at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City, where she had been taken on and off for complications in her ailment. Santiago was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2014. JE/rga