Former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who is 71 years old, succumbed to deadly lung cancer on Thursday morning, her better-half Atty. Jun Santiago said.
Former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who is 71 years old, succumbed to deadly lung cancer on Thursday morning, her better-half Atty. Jun Santiago said.
"She died peacefully in her sleep this morning," Santiago said.
The former administrator passed away while hospitalized at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City.
Her official Twitter account posted a message midmorning that our beloved Sen. Santiago passed away at 8:52 a.m.
Meanwhile, Kapuso actress Heart Evangelista and other local showbiz personalities took to social media to mourn the death of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
Heart is a close-friend of the Senator and described her as her Mentor, Lawyer and her second Mother.
The actress said, "I cannot say goodbye I just can't," she wrote in the caption. "You put so much happiness and positivity in my life that I just can't imagine I can't call you ever again."
Celebrities like Lea Salonga Regine Velasquez, Eugene Domingo, Aiko Melendez and Pia Wurtzbach also expressed their sadness about the senator's untimely death on their Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Born in Iloilo City on June 15, 1945, the former senator ran for president in the May 2016 elections but lost to Rodrigo Duterte. She also sought the presidency in 1992 (won by Fidel Ramos) and 1998 (won by Joseph Estrada).
Santiago has been dubbed as the "Iron Lady of Asia" for her no-nonsense drive against graft and corruption when she served all the three branches of the government—judicial, executive, and legislative.
Her remains will be brought to Immaculate.
