Duterte to pay last respects to Santiago on Saturday

President Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago greet each other onstage before the start of the presidential debates at Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City in February. INQUIRER PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to pay his last respects to former Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago on Saturday.

This was announced by presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo when he visited the wake of the senator at the Immaculate Concepcion Church Cathedral Grottos in Cubao early Friday evening.

“He will visit before or after lunch,” he told reporters.

Panelo said the Philippines “lost a great leader” with the death of the senator.

In his tribute on Thursday, Duterte said Santiago was “best remembered as a graftbuster ‘eating death threats for breakfast,’ earning her the Iron Lady of Asia.”

Santiago passed away on Thursday morning at the age of 71 after battling lung cancer for two years.