| President Rodrigo Duterte paid his final respect to the former Senator Miriam Defensor- Santiago at dawn on Sunday, October 2.
The President arrived at the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral Grottos in Cubao, Quezon City at 1 a.m.
President Duterte extended his condolences to the late Senator’s spouse, Narciso “Jun” Santiago and their relatives. The President was also seen talking to some personalities.
In a statement released following the death of Sen. Santiago, President Duterte expressed his deepest sorrow in the passing of the former Senator.
“Senator Santiago has left a sterling career in public office. She is best remembered as a graft buster ‘eating death threats for breakfast,’ earning her the Iron Lady of Asia. A constitutionalist, she has always been an advocate for the rule of law,” President Duterte said in his statement.
“Rest in peace, Madam Senator. May your legacy continue to guide this nation for many years to come,” he added.
It will be recalled that during the campaign for the May 2016 Presidential elections, the public witnessed the mutual admiration between the President and the former Senator, especially during the presidential debate.
Santiago ran for presidency for the third time in the May 2016 elections.
In her last pitch for the presidency, Santiago said she ran for the youth, noting that she was always number one among the youth in campus surveys.
Santiago died on September 29 at the age of 71. Her remains will be interred on October 2, at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina. PND |
