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{{Short description|Filipina politician, lawyer, and author (1945–2016)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Philippine name|Palma|Defensor|Santiago|ph=married}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[The Honorable]]
| name             = Miriam Defensor Santiago
| image            = Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago (cropped).jpg
| caption          = Defensor Santiago in 2012
| office           = [[Senate of the Philippines|Senator of the Philippines]]
| term_start       = June 30, 2004
| term_end         = June 30, 2016
| term_start1      = June 30, 1995
| term_end1        = June 30, 2001
| office2          = [[Judges of the International Criminal Court|Judge of the International Criminal Court]]
| nominator2       = [[Philippines]]
| appointer2       = [[International Criminal Court#Assembly|Assembly of States Parties]]
| term_start2      = [[2011 International Criminal Court judges election|March 11, 2012]]
| term_end2        = June 4, 2014
| successor2       = [[Raul Pangalangan]]
| office3          = Chair of the [[Philippine Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Senate Foreign Relations Committee]]
| term_start3      = July 22, 2013
| term_end3        = June 30, 2016
| predecessor3     = [[Loren Legarda]]
| successor3       = [[Alan Peter Cayetano]]
| office4          = [[Secretary of Agrarian Reform]]
| president4       = [[Corazon Aquino]]
| term_start4      = July 20, 1989
| term_end4        = January 4, 1990
| predecessor4     = [[Philip Ella Juico|Philip Juico]]
| successor4       = [[Florencio Abad]]
| birth_name       = Miriam Palma Defensor
| birth_date       = {{birth date|1945|6|15}}
| birth_place      = [[Iloilo City]], [[Philippines]]
| death_date       = {{death date and age|2016|9|29|1945|6|15}}
| death_place      = [[Taguig]], Philippines
| party            = [[People's Reform Party]] (1991–2016)
| spouse           = {{marriage|Narciso Santiago Jr.|1970}}
| children         = Narciso III<br>Alexander Robert
| signature        = MDS Signature.svg
| website          = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20080724192642/http://www.miriam.com.ph|Official website}}
| resting_place    = [[Loyola Memorial Park]], [[Marikina]]
| alma_mater       = [[University of the Philippines Visayas]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of the Philippines Diliman]] ([[Bachelor of Laws|LL.B]])<br>[[University of Michigan]] ([[Master of Laws|LL.M]], [[Doctor of Juridical Science|SJD]])<br>[[Maryhill School of Theology]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])
}}
'''Miriam Palma Defensor-Santiago''' {{post-nominals|list=[[Order of Civil Merit|GCS]] [[Quezon Service Cross|QSC]]}} (June 15, 1945 – September 29, 2016) was a Filipino scholar, academic, lawyer, judge, author, stateswoman, and politician who served in all three branches of the [[Government of the Philippines|Philippine government]]: judicial, executive, and legislative. She was named one of The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World in 1997 by ''[[The Australian]]''.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/santiago_bio.asp|title=Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago - Senate of the Philippines|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723055856/http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/santiago_bio.asp|archive-date=July 23, 2014}}</ref> Defensor Santiago was known for being a long-serving [[Senate of the Philippines|Senator of the Republic of the Philippines]], an elected judge of the [[International Criminal Court]], and the sole female recipient of the Philippines' highest national honor, the [[Quezon Service Cross]].

In 1988, Defensor Santiago was named laureate of the [[Ramon Magsaysay Award]] for government service, with a citation ''for bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a [[Graft (politics)|graft]]-ridden government agency.''<ref name=cv>[https://web.archive.org/web/20231128053155/https://www.rmaward.asia/awardee/santiago-miriam-defensor Biography of Miriam Defensor Santiago], The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation; retrieved November 28, 2023.</ref><ref name="atimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/DI13Ae02.html|title=Asia Times|access-date=April 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923231608/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/DI13Ae02.html|archive-date=September 23, 2015|url-status=unfit}}</ref><ref name="fnfasia.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.fnfasia.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1611:former-fnf-fellowship-student-to-receive-ramon-magsaysay-award|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130704013402/http://www.fnfasia.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1611:former-fnf-fellowship-student-to-receive-ramon-magsaysay-award|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 4, 2013|title=Former FNF Fellowship Student to Receive Ramon Magsaysay Award}}</ref><ref name="rmaf.org.ph">{{cite web|url=http://www.rmaf.org.ph/newrmaf/main/awardees/awardee/profile/177|title=Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation - Awardees|author=Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation|work=RMAF|access-date=April 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629203059/http://www.rmaf.org.ph/newrmaf/main/awardees/awardee/profile/177|archive-date=June 29, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> After being appointed by [[Corazon Aquino|President Corazon Aquino]] as [[Secretary of Agrarian Reform (Philippines)|Secretary of Agrarian Reform]] from 1989 to 1990, she ran in the [[1992 Philippine presidential election|1992 presidential election]] but was controversially defeated in events that involved a car crash injury and power outages during voting process.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite news|date=May 13, 1992|title=Anti-Corruption Campaigner and General Lead in Early Philippine Returns|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/13/world/anti-corruption-campaigner-and-general-lead-in-early-philippine-returns.html|access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref><ref name="nytimes.com" /><ref name="www.senate.gov.ph" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Defensor Santiago would then serve three terms in the [[Senate of the Philippines|Philippine Senate]], where she was known for supporting [[Progressivism|progressive]] laws, and authored or campaigned [[anti-corruption]] bills.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Shenon|first=Philip|date=May 13, 1992|title=Anti-Corruption Campaigner and General Lead in Early Philippine Returns (Published 1992)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/13/world/anti-corruption-campaigner-and-general-lead-in-early-philippine-returns.html|access-date=November 17, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Press Release - Santiago: Youth against corruption|url=http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2016/0429_santiago2.asp|access-date=November 17, 2020|website=legacy.senate.gov.ph}}</ref> After former president [[Joseph Estrada]] was arrested on April 25, 2001, she was among the politicians who spoke against [[EDSA II]] at pro-Estrada rallies that preceded the [[EDSA III|May 1 riots]] near [[Malacañang Palace]].

In 2012, Defensor Santiago became the first Filipina and the first Asian from a developing country to be elected a judge of the [[International Criminal Court]].<ref>{{cite web|title=PRESS STATEMENT ON SENATOR SANTIAGO'S ELECTION AS ICC JUDGE|url=http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2011/1213_revilla1.asp|work=Senate Press Releases|publisher=Senate of the Philippines|access-date=June 6, 2013|date=December 13, 2011}}</ref> She later resigned the post,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/passing-senator-miriam-defensor-santiago|title=Passing of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago|date=30 September 2016|publisher=[[International Criminal Court]]|access-date=29 August 2024}}</ref> citing [[chronic fatigue syndrome]], which turned out to be [[lung cancer]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Ayee|last=Macaraig|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/59531-miriam-resigns-icc-judge|title=It's final: Miriam steps down as ICC judge|work=Rappler|accessdate=February 8, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Ayee|last=Macaraig|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/62172-miriam-santiago-lung-cancer|title=Miriam Santiago: I have lung cancer|work=Rappler|accessdate=September 25, 2014}}</ref>

On October 13, 2015, Defensor Santiago controversially [[Miriam Defensor Santiago presidential campaign, 2016|declared her third candidacy]] for [[President of the Philippines]] in the [[2016 Philippine presidential election|2016 election]] after her doctors from the United States declared her cancer "stable" and "receded", but lost the election due to public concern for her health. In April 2016, her last appointed [[Job|post]] was part of the [[International Development Law Organization]] Advisory Council (IDLO), an intergovernmental body that promotes the rule of law.<ref>{{cite web|date=January 23, 2016|title=Miriam to join Bill Gates in elite law group|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/01/23/1545386/miriam-join-bill-gates-elite-law-group|access-date=April 15, 2016|work=philstar.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Our People - IDLO|date=July 2, 2015|url=http://www.idlo.int/about-idlo/our-people}}</ref> She died from complications from her cancer on September 29, 2016, and was buried days later at Loyola Memorial Park in [[Marikina]]. In December 2018, the prestigious [[Quezon Service Cross]] was posthumously conferred upon Defensor Santiago, making her the first woman and, so far, [[Quezon Service Cross#Awardees|only Visayan and the sixth person ever to be enthroned in the country's highest roster]].<ref name="6thRecipient">{{cite news|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/03/18/miriam-defensor-santiago-becomes-6th-recipient-of-phs-highest-civil-service-award|title=Miriam Defensor Santiago becomes 6th recipient of PH's highest civil service award|last=Placido|first=Dharel|date=December 3, 2018|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=April 24, 2019}}</ref>

Defensor Santiago was known as the Dragon Lady, the Platinum Lady, the Incorruptible Lady, the Impregnable Lady, Feisty Senator, The Doctor of All Laws, the Omniscient Woman and most popularly, the Iron Lady of Asia. She is colloquially known in Philippine pop culture as simply Miriam or MDS,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filipiknow.net/interesting-facts-about-miriam-defensor-santiago/|title=15 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Miriam Defensor-Santiago|date=July 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hngn.com/articles/139826/20151013/philippines-iron-lady-of-asia-miriam-santiago-runs-for-president-after-surviving-cancer.htm|title=Philippines: 'Iron Lady Of Asia' Miriam Santiago Runs For President After Surviving Cancer|work=Headlines & Global News|date=October 13, 2015}}</ref> and is positively cited for her lifelong dedication to [[public service]] in the Philippine government.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago|url=http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/santiago_bio.asp|access-date=November 4, 2020|website=Senate of the Philippines}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=September 29, 2016|title=Miriam Santiago: Philippine senator and ex-presidential candidate dies|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37503145|access-date=November 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Miriam Defensor-Santiago: A life 'dedicated' to public service|url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2017/09/27/opinion/analysis/miriam-defensor-santiago-life-dedicated-public-service/353057/|access-date=November 4, 2020|website=The Manila Times|date=September 27, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Defensor Santiago was born Miriam Palma Defensor in [[Iloilo City]], to Benjamin Defensor, a local judge, and Dimpna Palma, a college dean. She was the eldest of seven children. She graduated [[valedictorian]] in grade school, high school, undergraduate school.<ref>{{cite book|last=Defensor Santiago|first=Miriam|title=Inventing Myself|publisher=New Day Publishers of the Christian Literature Society of the Philippines, Inc.|date=1994|isbn=971-10-0552-2|page=10}}</ref> She graduated high school in Iloilo Provincial High School (now [[Iloilo National High School]]) and served as the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of the said high school's student publication "''The Ilonggo''". In 1965, Defensor Santiago graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in [[political science]], ''[[magna cum laude]]'' from the then [[University of the Philippines Visayas|University of the Philippines College Iloilo]] (now UP Visayas). After graduation, she was elected to the [[Pi Gamma Mu]] and [[Phi Kappa Phi]] honor societies.<ref name="uprotc.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.uprotc.org/directory/corps-sponsors/miriam-defensor-santiago.html|title=Miriam Defensor-Santiago|author=JA Media Solutions, Inc. December 2009|work=University of the Philippines - Reserve Officers' Training Corps|access-date=April 15, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512182434/http://www.uprotc.org/directory/corps-sponsors/miriam-defensor-santiago.html|archive-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>

She proceeded to the [[University of the Philippines College of Law]]. There, she was champion in numerous oratorical contests and debates.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> She became the first female editor of the student newspaper, ''[[The Philippine Collegian]]'', and was twice appointed ROTC muse.<ref>{{cite news|title=UP names Miriam most outstanding graduate again|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1370&dat=19970719&id=yJgVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3811,1905778 |date=July 19, 1997|work=Manila Standard |via=Google News Archive Search|access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Official autobiography last accessed July 25, 2014">{{cite web|url=http://miriam.com.ph/newsblog/about|title=About|work=Miriam Defensor Santiago|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812085435/http://miriam.com.ph/newsblog/about/|archive-date=August 12, 2014}}</ref> She graduated [[Bachelor of Laws]], ''[[cum laude]]'', from the [[University of the Philippines College of Law]] in [[University of the Philippines Diliman|Diliman]].<ref name=":3" />

Defensor Santiago went on a fellowship to the [[United States]], and earned the [[Master of Laws]] and [[Doctor of Juridical Science]] degrees at the [[University of Michigan]]. She finished both degrees in a period of only one and a half years.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|url=http://dfa.gov.ph/main/index.php/newsroom/dmds-candidature/dr-miriam-defensor-santiago-cv|title=Curriculum Vitae of Dr. Miriam Defensor Santiago|access-date=December 17, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219134533/http://dfa.gov.ph/main/index.php/newsroom/dmds-candidature/dr-miriam-defensor-santiago-cv|archive-date=December 19, 2011}}</ref> Following school, she took a position as special assistant to the Secretary of Justice. She also taught [[political science]] at the [[Trinity University of Asia]]. She was law professor at the [[University of the Philippines Diliman]], teaching evening classes for some ten years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uprotc.org/1969/directory/corps-sponsors/miriam-defensor-santiago.html|title=Miriam Defensor-Santiago|author=JA Media Solutions, Inc. December 2009|work=University of the Philippines - Reserve Officers' Training Corps|access-date=April 15, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508025426/http://www.uprotc.org/1969/directory/corps-sponsors/miriam-defensor-santiago.html|archive-date=May 8, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/203779/maid-miriam-and-pretty-morales|title=Maid Miriam and pretty Morales|first=Ramon|last=Tulfo|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=May 30, 2012|access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref> Her hero as a lawyer and legislator growing up was [[Arturo M. Tolentino]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=De Quiros|first=Conrado|title=Have a heart|url=https://opinion.inquirer.net/53131/have-a-heart-2|date=May 22, 2013}}</ref>

She has studied at several universities, including [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] and [[Harvard]] law summer schools; [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]]; and [[The Hague Academy of International Law]]. She earned the degree Master of Religious Studies (without thesis) at the [[Maryhill School of Theology]].<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

In Oxford, she was a research fellow at St. Hilda's College<ref>{{cite web |title=The Chronicle |url=https://www.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk/file/4614/download?token=l0XR8yKS |website=[[St Hilda's College, Oxford|St Hilda's College]] |access-date=17 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014081430/https://www.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk/file/4614/download?token=l0XR8yKS |archive-date=October 14, 2020 |location=Oxford |page=19 |date=2017}}</ref> and also took a summer program in law at St. Edmund's Hall.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} At Cambridge, she was a research fellow at the Lauterpacht Research Centre for International Law.<ref name="PhilStar-Miriam-ICC">{{cite news |last1=Sy |first1=Marvin |title=Miriam steps up ICC campaign |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2011/10/06/734027/miriam-steps-icc-campaign/ |access-date=17 January 2023 |work=[[The Philippine Star]] |date=October 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20230117030109/https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2011/10/06/734027/miriam-steps-icc-campaign/amp/ |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Career ==
===Department of Justice===
Defensor-Santiago became a special assistant to the Secretary of Justice for ten years after her higher studies abroad.<ref name="MB-PoliticalProphet">{{cite news |last1=Terrazola |first1=Vanne Elaine |title='Political prophet' Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago remembered |url=https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/14/political-prophet-sen-miriam-defensor-santiago-remembered/ |access-date=17 January 2023 |work=[[Manila Bulletin]] |date=14 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614083005/https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/14/political-prophet-sen-miriam-defensor-santiago-remembered/ |archive-date=June 14, 2021}}</ref>

===United Nations===
From 1979 to 1980,<ref name="SenateGovPH-Miriam" /> Defensor Santiago served as Legal Officer of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees at Geneva, Switzerland. She was assigned to the Conferences and Treaties Section. She became skilled at treaty negotiation and drafting. She resigned her position when her father in the Philippines developed prostate cancer.<ref>{{cite book |last= Defensor Santiago|first= Miriam |title= Inventing Myself |publisher= New Day Publishers of the Christian Literature Society of the Philippines, Inc. |date= 1994|isbn= 971-10-0552-2 |page = 82}}</ref>

===Judge during martial law===
Defensor Santiago was appointed judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Quezon City, Metro Manila by President Ferdinand Marcos. She was the youngest judge appointed to Metro Manila, and exempted from the practice of first serving as a judge outside Metro Manila.<ref name="rmaf.org.ph"/> As a RTC judge, she quickly implement a "no postponement" policy. At that time, cases were tried in segments that were usually a month apart, resulting in trials that took years to finish. Lawyers were prone to seek postponement of trial. As a result, trial judges scheduled ten or fifteen cases a day, so that they could make up for cases postponed. Defensor Santiago scheduled only five cases a day, heard each case, and disposed of the highest number of cases in her first year in office. {{citation needed|date=July 2018}}

Defensor Santiago became nationally famous when she issued perhaps the first decision to rule against martial law. At that time, alleged illegal public assemblies were declared as crimes and were punishable by death. {{citation needed|date=July 2018}} A large group of activist students from the University of the Philippines and Ateneo, as well as activists in the film industry, staged a rally in a central business district, and denounced the First Lady for her excesses. To retaliate, Marcos issued a Preventive Detention Action order which authorized the military to hold suspects indefinitely without bail. The students faced the dire prospect of missing their final exams and, for many of them, missing graduation. Defensor Santiago suspended hearings on all other pending cases, and conducted whole-day trials. In the end, she ordered the military to allow the students to post bail. After promulgating her decision at the end of the day, Defensor Santiago drove herself to the state university, where she was teaching law. The Philippine Jaycees, the Philippine Lions, and the YMCA Philippines all gave her awards for judicial excellence.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

===Immigration Commissioner===
After martial law, in 1988, President [[Corazon Aquino]] appointed Defensor Santiago as commissioner of the [[Bureau of Immigration (Philippines)|Bureau of Immigration and Deportation]].<ref name="ReferenceA"/> At that time, the BID was one of the most corrupt government agencies in Southeast Asia. Defensor Santiago declared the Philippines as "the fake passport capital of the world", and directed raids against criminal syndicates, including the Yakuza. She filled the CID detention center with alien criminals, and ordered construction of another detention center. She extended to legal aliens protection from widespread extortion by requesting President Aquino to issue an executive order that authorized the "alien legalization program".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/26/world/manila-journal-battling-the-culture-of-corruption-day-by-day.html?scp=7&sq=miriam%20defensor%20santiago&st=cse|title=Manila Journal; Battling the 'Culture of Corruption' Day by Day|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 26, 1988|access-date=June 3, 2013}}</ref>

She received serious death threats, but proclaimed: "I eat death threats for breakfast".<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/10/world/a-sharp-tongue-propels-a-philippine-candidate.html?scp=4&sq=miriam%20defensor%20santiago&st=cse|work=The New York Times|title=A Sharp Tongue Propels A Philippine Candidate|date=May 10, 1992}}</ref> A member of the House of Representatives, Laguna Rep. Nereo Joaquin, delivered a privilege speech in 1992 and denounced her raids against pedophile communities in Central Luzon run by alien pedophiles. Defensor Santiago responded by calling him "fungus face".<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/10/world/a-sharp-tongue-propels-a-philippine-candidate.html?scp=6&sq=miriam%20defensor%20santiago&st=cse|title=A Sharp Tongue Propels A Philippine Candidate|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 10, 1992|access-date=March 13, 2011}}</ref>

The Rockefeller Foundation named her a laureate of the Magsaysay Award for government service – "for bold and moral leadership in cleaning up a graft-ridden government agency."<ref name="cv"/><ref name="atimes.com"/><ref name="fnfasia.org"/><ref name="rmaf.org.ph"/>

===Agrarian Reform Secretary===
President Corazon Aquino promoted Defensor Santiago to member of her cabinet, as [[Department of Agrarian Reform|Secretary of Agrarian Reform]].<ref name="www.senate.gov.ph">{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.gov.ph|title=Archived copy|access-date=June 10, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527115514/http://www.senate.gov.ph/|archive-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://2010.pinoyvote.info/senatoriables/miriam-defensor-santiago|title=Miriam Defensor-Santiago profile|publisher=2010.pinoyvote.info|access-date=March 13, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721231246/http://2010.pinoyvote.info/senatoriables/miriam-defensor-santiago/|archive-date=July 21, 2011}}</ref> Under a controversial law passed by Congress and signed by President Aquino, all agricultural landholdings were taken by the government and divided among the farmers. Each landowner was allowed to keep only five hectares, and each farmer received three hectares. Payment was in bonds of the Land Bank. To subvert the law, big landowners applied for conversion of the classification of their land as agricultural, to classification as commercial, residential, or industrial. The process became the widespread "conversion scandal of agrarian reform". The DAR officials themselves were the biggest culprits, because they sold conversion permits for bribes on a market rate set at certain amounts per hectare involved in the conversion. Defensor Santiago stopped the conversion scandal, and appeased the landowners by enhancing the incentives for voluntary offers by the landowners for the sale of their landholdings, which entitled them to an additional five percent cash payment. When asked if the hacienda belonging to the president's family should be covered by agrarian reform, Defensor Santiago replied that the family's hacienda should be distributed among the farmers. Shortly thereafter President Aquino accepted Defensor Santiago's resignation.<ref name="miriam.com.ph">{{cite web|url=http://miriam.com.ph/aboutmiriam.php|title=About Miriam|website=The Official Website of Miriam Defensor Santiago|access-date=April 15, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430164032/http://miriam.com.ph/aboutmiriam.php|archive-date=April 30, 2016}}</ref>

===1992 presidential campaign===
{{main|1992 Philippine presidential election}}

Defensor Santiago's candidacy for President of the Philippines was confirmed on February 19, 1990.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bocobo|first=Ariel|title=Rails to ease traffic|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19900219&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|access-date=June 7, 2021|work=[[Manila Standard]]|publisher=Kagitingan Publications, Inc.|date=February 19, 1990|page=11}}</ref> She later organized the [[People's Reform Party]] (PRP) and ran with a senatorial ticket during the 1992 presidential campaign. [[Ramon Magsaysay Jr.]] was her running mate. While campaigning on April 28, 1991, she was severely injured in car crash,<ref name=":0">[http://www.miriam.com.ph/aboutmiriam.php About Miriam] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717033018/http://miriam.com.ph/aboutmiriam.php |date=July 17, 2014 }}, Defensor Santiago's official website</ref> which she claimed was an assassination attempt.<ref>[http://miriam.com.ph/newsblog/2010/11/30/the-philippine-senates-demi-moore/ THE PHILIPPINE SENATE'S "DEMI MOORE"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208223729/http://miriam.com.ph/newsblog/2010/11/30/the-philippine-senates-demi-moore/ |date=February 8, 2015 }}, Defensor Santiago's official website</ref> She was wearing a white bush jacket which became splattered with blood that gushed from a wound to her head. On orders of President Aquino, she was airlifted from Tarlac to a Manila hospital. She underwent surgery on the jaw, and at one point a Catholic priest administered the last rites of the dying. Two months later, she was back on the campaign trail.<ref name="inquirer.net"/>
Defensor Santiago has been dubbed as "The Iron Lady of Asia" and the "Dragon Lady" due to her scathing but bold eloquence both in leadership and writing. She cites physicist [[Marie Curie]] and former British Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] as her major influences throughout her political career, with Thatcher praising her for her book ''Cutting Edge'' during their meeting while the Prime Minister visited the Philippines.<ref name="spot-miriam10">{{cite news|url=http://www.spot.ph/feed/rss/index.php/newsfeatures/the-latest-news-features/63969/10-facts-miriam-defensor-santiago|title=10 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Miriam Defensor Santiago|work=Spot.PH|publisher=[[Summit Media]]|date=October 15, 2015|access-date=September 29, 2016|archive-date=September 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921120951/http://www.spot.ph/feed/rss/index.php/newsfeatures/the-latest-news-features/63969/10-facts-miriam-defensor-santiago|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Defensor Santiago was leading the canvassing of votes for the first five days.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> Following a string of power outages, the tabulation concluded, and Ramos was declared president-elect. Defensor Santiago filed a protest before the Supreme Court as electoral tribunal, citing the power outages during the counting of votes as evidence of massive fraud. Her election protest was eventually dismissed on a technicality.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="nytimes.com"/><ref name="www.senate.gov.ph"/><ref name=":1">{{cite web|last=Shenon|first=Philip|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10617F835540C778DDDAC0894DA494D81&scp=27&sq=miriam%20defensor%20santiago&st=cse|title=Front-Runners Are Nip and Tuck As Philippine Returns Trickle In|location=Philippines |work=The New York Times|date=May 14, 1992|access-date=March 13, 2011}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/24/world/power-failures-slow-philippine-vote-count-and-feed-suspicions-of-fraud.html?scp=9&sq=miriam%20defensor%20santiago&st=cse|title=Power Failures Slow Philippine Vote Count|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 24, 1992|access-date=March 13, 2011}}</ref>

The public outrage over the presidential results prompted ''Newsweek'' to feature her and her rival on the cover with the question: "Was the Election Fair?" In another cover story, ''Philippines Free Press'' magazine asked: "Who's the Real President?". The quote, 'Miriam won in the elections but lost in the counting' was popularized by the masses.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

===Senator===
====First term, 1995–2001; EDSA II and III====
Defensor Santiago was first elected senator in 1995. In 1997, her presidential rival [[Fidel Ramos]] initiated a "people's campaign" for an infinite presidential term. Defensor Santiago harshly criticized Ramos' campaign and went to court. In a landmark case, ''Defensor Santiago vs COMELEC'', she won and preserved the people's mandate for term limits. She again ran for president in the [[1998 Philippine presidential election|1998 presidential elections]], with running-mate [[Francisco Tatad]], but lost amidst heavy propaganda concerning her mental health, which was later proven false.<ref>"Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago - Senate of the Philippines". {{cite web|url=http://www.Senate.gov.ph|title=Archived copy|access-date=June 10, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527115514/http://www.senate.gov.ph/|archive-date=May 27, 2014}}; retrieved March 13, 2011.</ref> In 2000, she filed in the Senate the first version of the anti-discrimination bill which would later become the [[SOGIE Equality Bill]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/238593-timeline-sogie-equality-philippines/|title=TIMELINE: SOGIE equality in the Philippines|date=August 28, 2019}}</ref> 
She was one of the few senators who were against the opening of the brown envelope during the impeachment trial of then-President [[Joseph Estrada]], who was her foe in the 1998 presidential elections. She said afterwards:{{blockquote|At that time, I wanted to apply the rules of court technically. Since there is no allegation of wrongdoing in connection with the notorious second envelope, I voted that we should not open the second envelope until and after the complaint had already been amended [...] I was among those demonized because I voted against the opening of the second envelope – ''dahil ang paniwala ng taong bayan, kung ayaw namin buksan ang'' second envelope ''na 'yan, may tinatago kami''. (translation from Filipino: because in the belief of the masses if we don't want to open the envelope, then we are hiding something.)}}

Estrada was ousted in the [[Second EDSA Revolution]] in January 2001 and succeeded by Vice President [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]], which Defensor Santiago considered illegal under the Philippine Constitution due to the lack of a formal resignation from Estrada.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Avendaño|first1=Christine|last2=Cueto|first2=Donna S.|last3=Ubac|first3=Michael Lim|last4=Bordadora|first4=Norman|last5=Herrera|first5=Christine|last6=Rivera|first6=Blanche|title=Erap out, Gloria in: New President vows leadership by example.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Pn42AAAAIBAJ|access-date=March 26, 2024|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|publisher=The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=January 21, 2001|page=1|quote=The new President, the country's 14th said she decided to take her oath even without Estrada's formal resignation after being informed by [Hilario] Davide [Jr.] that her succession was legal.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Avendaño|first=Christine|title=2 senators hit Lee comment on Edsa 2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QX42AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA2|access-date=March 26, 2024|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|publisher=The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=January 24, 2001|page=2|quote=Santiago said Macapagal's succession climaxed by her oath-taking at the Edsa Shrine, was illegal under the present Constitution[...]}}</ref> In her vehement support for Estrada, she once mentioned that she will jump off an airplane without a parachute if Estrada is arrested.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Crisostomo|first1=Shiela |last2=Pareño|first2=Roel|last3=Dematera|first3=Cet|last4=Regalado|first4=Edith|title=Miriam urged: Go ahead, jump|url=https://www.philstar.com/news-commentary/2001/04/26/91996/miriam-urged-go-ahead-jump|access-date=April 8, 2024|work=[[The Philippine Star|Philstar.com]]|publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=April 26, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Mercado|first=Juan L.|title=Ending Santiago's bizarre promises|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=81Q1AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA11|access-date=April 8, 2024|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|publisher=The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=April 27, 2001|page=A10|author-link=Press Foundation of Asia}}</ref> After Estrada's arrest on April 25, 2001, Defensor Santiago would join other politicians in attending and speaking at pro-Estrada rallies held in the succeeding days at [[EDSA Shrine]], where she demanded the resignation of Arroyo and her entire cabinet and the reinstatement of Estrada as president lest the protesters storm [[Malacañang Palace]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Contreras|first1=Volt|last2=Rivera|first2=Blanche|last3=Donato|first3=Agnes E.|title=Erap allies mass at Edsa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=81Q1AAAAIBAJ|access-date=March 26, 2024|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|publisher=The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=April 27, 2001|page=1|quote='If we can gather enough numbers to convince the administration that it is in (its) own best interest to voluntarily step down, then President Estrada will be restored to the presidency,' she told a press conference yesterday.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Mendez|first=Christina|title=Miriam to GMA: Resign or we will storm palace|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2001/04/30/90521/miriam-gma-resign-or-we-will-storm-palace|access-date=March 26, 2024|work=[[The Philippine Star|Philstar.com]]|publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=April 30, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Ubac|first1=Michael Lim|last2=Rivera|first2=Blanche S.|last3=Pazzibugan|first3=Dona Z.|last4=Herrera|first4=Christine|last5=Trinidad-Echavez|first5=Andrea|last6=Avendaño|first6=Christine|last7=Baytion|first7=Rosary Diane|last8=Salaverria|first8=Leila|title=NBI eyes sedition charges: Miriam, JPE, Gringo, Ping facing probe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y6U2AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA6|access-date=March 26, 2024|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|publisher=The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=May 1, 2001|page=6|quote=Santiago also called on the President, Vice President [[Teofisto Guingona]] and her entire cabinet to step down, or the loyalists would be forced to storm Malacañang.}}</ref> The rallies she spoke in were soon followed by the [[EDSA III|May 1 riots]] initiated by the rallyists going to Malacañang, where reporters from the ''[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]'' noted their attempts to storm the institution's premises being preceded by statements from Santiago the previous night that went: "I am bored. Let's not wait for the military and police. Let's do it, just us. Now!"<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ubac|first1=Michael Lim|last2=Donato|first2=Agnes|title=Chronology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zKU2AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA20|access-date=March 26, 2024|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|publisher=The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=May 2, 2001|page=A20}}</ref> After the May 1 incident, Santiago remained defiant in her stance against the Arroyo presidency,<ref>{{cite news|title=Miriam dares: Come and get me|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/abs/inews-may2001.nsf/national/20010504080|work=[[ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs|ABS-CBN News]]|publisher=[[ABS-CBN Corporation|ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.]]|date=May 3, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010513130252/http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/abs/inews-may2001.nsf/national/20010504080|archive-date=May 13, 2001|quote='I am not guilty; I spoke only twice at the week-long EDSA rally. I was not even in EDSA or Mendiola on the day the violent clashes occurred,' [Lacson] said.}}</ref> and was denounced by her cousin, Governor [[Arthur Defensor Sr.]] of [[Iloilo]], for her rhetoric.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iloilo governor slams cousin Miriam|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/ABS/INEWS-MAY2001.NSF/Provincial/20010504082|work=[[ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs|ABS-CBN News]]|publisher=[[ABS-CBN Corporation|ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.]]|date=May 3, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010512004738/http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/ABS/INEWS-MAY2001.NSF/Provincial/20010504082|archive-date=May 12, 2001|location=[[Iloilo City]]}}</ref>

Defensor Santiago lost re-election to the Senate in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/245548/news/nation/miriam-learn-from-erap-trial-and-let-public-see-evidence|title=Miriam: Learn from Erap trial and let public see evidence|work=GMA News Online|date=January 24, 2012 |access-date=September 29, 2016}}</ref> Estrada would later be pardoned by President Arroyo on October 26, 2007.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mogato|first=Manny|title=Former Philippine president Estrada pardoned|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSMNB00071/|access-date=March 26, 2024|work=[[Reuters]]|date=October 25, 2007|location=[[Manila]]}}</ref>

====Second and third term, 2004–2016====
[[File:Miriam beams as she attends a wedding as a sponsor.JPG|thumb|Defensor-Santiago in 2015 attends a wedding as a sponsor]]

Defensor Santiago ran for senator in 2004 and was elected. She ran again for senator in 2010 and won. During her three terms, she served as chair mostly of the foreign relations committee and the constitutional amendments committee.<ref name="SenateGovPH-Miriam" /> She was elected as official candidate of her party [[People's Reform Party]], serving also as chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Commission on Appointments. She exposed and named numerous ''jueteng'' (illegal gambling) lords and illegal-logging lords throughout her terms.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 15, 2012 |title=Miriam brings up jueteng issue in Senate probe |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2012/09/15/849225/miriam-brings-jueteng-issue-senate-probe |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref>

In 2011, Defensor Santiago was elected as a judge of the [[International Criminal Court]] (ICC) which hears cases against humanity for former heads of state. She was the first Asian from a third-world country to be elected to such a post. She resigned in 2014 after being diagnosed with lung cancer. She was one of the three senators who voted against the conviction of Supreme Court Chief Justice [[Renato Corona]] during [[Impeachment of Renato Corona|his impeachment trial]]; Corona was ultimately found guilty for his failure to disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ager |first1=Maila |title=Senate votes 20-3 to convict Corona |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/202929/senate-convicts-corona |access-date=17 January 2023 |newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]] |date=29 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531095823/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/202929/senate-convicts-corona |archive-date=May 31, 2012 |language=en}}</ref>

In December 2012, she exposed that the Senate president, [[Juan Ponce Enrile]], used Senate funds to give away as cash gifts. Every senator, except Defensor Santiago and two others, received ₱2 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Privilege speech of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/12/04/1264133/privilege-speech-senator-miriam-defensor-santiago |access-date=17 January 2023 |work=[[The Philippine Star]] |date=December 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204170250/https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/12/04/1264133/privilege-speech-senator-miriam-defensor-santiago |archive-date=December 4, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bacani |first1=Louis |title=Mark the date: Miriam hits back at Enrile Dec. 4 |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/11/27/1261537/mark-date-miriam-hits-back-enrile-dec-4 |access-date=17 January 2023 |work=[[The Philippine Star]] |date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117034205/https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/11/27/1261537/mark-date-miriam-hits-back-enrile-dec-4 |archive-date=17 January 2023}}</ref> This led to the [[Priority Development Assistance Fund scandal]], which put the Senate president behind bars with charges of plunder. Defensor Santiago's live Senate hearings in the case led to public outrage and support for Defensor Santiago's call to abolish the pork barrel system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bacani |first=Louis |date=July 31, 2013 |title=Miriam files resolution abolishing pork barrel |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/07/31/1035471/miriam-files-resolution-abolishing-pork-barrel |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref>

She was the first Filipino elected as a commissioner for the [[International Development Law Organization]] (IDLO) in 2016. Her role in the organization was advisory to the international law community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/01/23/1545386/miriam-join-bill-gates-elite-law-group|title=Miriam to join Bill Gates in elite law group|first=Marvin|last=Sy|website=The Philippine Star|access-date=December 16, 2017}}</ref>

====Select laws authored====
Among the laws that Defensor Santiago authored are:
*Reproductive Health Act of 2012, which instills reproductive health education throughout the nation, and was backed by the majority of the population while criticized by religious institutions in the predominantly Roman Catholic country.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Cathy C. Yamsuan |author2=[[Christian Esguerra|Christian V. Esguerra]] |author3=Leila B. Salaverria |title=Congress passes RH bill |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/326013/congress-passes-rh-bill |access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref>
*Sin Tax Law, which improved the taxation of the country and led to the economic revolutions that bolstered Philippine shares.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/293374/use-my-version-of-sin-tax-bill-santiago-urges-peers|title=Use my version of sin tax bill, Santiago urges peers|first=Cathy|last=Yamsuan|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref>
*Climate Change Act of 2009, which mandated the entire nation to become a bastion for climate change responsiveness, mitigation, adaptation, and management.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/473664/senate-passes-climate-change-act-final-reading|title=Senate passes Climate Change Act on final reading|work=The Philippine Star|access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref>
*Renewable Energy Act of 2008, which mandated the government to shift the energy source of the country from coal and oil into solar, wind, and other renewable sources – this became the foundation for the establishment of numerous wind and solar plants in the country which made the Philippines the 'Wind Energy Capital of Southeast Asia'.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20071105-98990/Greenpeace_presses_passage_of_renewable_energy_bill|title=Greenpeace presses passage of renewable energy bill|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date=November 5, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213092121/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20071105-98990/Greenpeace_presses_passage_of_renewable_energy_bill|archive-date=December 13, 2014}}</ref>
*Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, which safeguarded human rights in the entire nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2009/12/11/republic-act-no-9851/|title=Republic Act No. 9851|work=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines|date=December 11, 2009 |access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref>
*Magna Carta of Women, which protected the rights of women in the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/207867/santiago-pia-cayetano-smell-victory-for-rh-bill|title=Santiago, Pia Cayetano smell victory for RH bill|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref>
*Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (Unifast) Act, which enhanced the educational system in the country, paving way for the intellectual revolution in urban and rural areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=16&q=SBN-2679|title=16th Congress - Senate Bill No. 2679 - Senate of the Philippines}}</ref>
*Cybercrime Act of 2012, which protected the nation and its people from cybercrimes which infested the country's cyberspace.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2012/09/12/republic-act-no-10175|title=Republic Act No. 10175|work=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines|date=September 12, 2012 |access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref>
*Department of Information and Communication Technology Act, which established the Department of Information and Communication Technology for better information dissemination and better internet speed in the country
*Archipelagic Baselines Act of 2009, which became one of the major bases for the country's claims on maritime sovereignty, including the [[South China Sea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2009/03/10/republic-act-no-9522/|title=Republic Act No. 9522|work=Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines|date=March 10, 2009|access-date=April 15, 2016|archive-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814224650/http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2009/03/10/republic-act-no-9522/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===2016 presidential campaign===
{{further|2016 Philippine presidential election}}
{{main|Miriam Defensor Santiago 2016 presidential campaign}}
[[File:Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Bongbong Marcos in Batac City 160209.jpg|thumb|Senators Defensor-Santiago and [[Bongbong Marcos]] in [[Batac]] City during the 2016 presidential campaign]]

In October 2015, Defensor Santiago announced her intention to run in the [[2016 Philippine presidential election]] after her cancer was deemed 'stable' and 'receded' by doctors from the United States.<ref name="inquirer.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/10/13/1510285/miriam-run-president|title=Miriam to run for president|work=The Philippine Star|access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/miriam-wades-in/223725/|title=Miriam wades in - The Manila Times Online|website=[[The Manila Times]] |date=October 13, 2015 |access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref> She later confirmed that Senator [[Bongbong Marcos]] would serve as her running mate for [[Vice President of the Philippines|vice president]]. Her campaign focused on the youth sector for which she heavily advocated, making use of social media. She was a landslide winner in numerous polls conducted in various public and private universities and colleges in the country. Despite this, she lost in the elections.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hegina|first1=Aries Joseph|title=Miriam Santiago confirms Bongbong Marcos is her vice president|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/731184/miriam-santiago-confirms-bongbong-marcos-is-her-veep|access-date=October 15, 2015|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|date=October 15, 2015}}</ref> Defensor Santiago was subsequently called "the greatest president we never had",<ref name="netizens">{{cite news|author=Royandoyan, Ramon H.|title=Netizens agree: Miriam was the best president the country never had|url=http://technology.inquirer.net/53051/netizens-agree-miriam-was-the-best-president-the-country-never-had|newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=September 30, 2016|access-date=October 5, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="bestpresident-senate">{{cite news|author=Elemia, Camille|title=Senators: Miriam a big loss, 'best president we never had'|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/147687-senate-mourns-miriam-santiago-death|work=[[Rappler]]|publisher=Rappler, Inc.|date=September 29, 2016|access-date=October 5, 2016}}</ref> a title which had been associated with her prior to her presidential run.<ref name="spot-president">{{cite news|title=10 Awesome Presidents We Never Had|url=http://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/the-latest-news-features/61846/10-awesome-presidents-we-never-had|work=Spot.PH|publisher=[[Summit Media]]|date=April 8, 2015|access-date=October 5, 2016}}</ref> The [[Youth Reform Movement|Youth for Miriam]], a youth group that supported her on the campaign, rebranded as [[Youth Reform Movement]] and founded a standalone organization that bears her writings and literature as philosophical pillars.

==Retirement==
Before her death, various groups in the country have been lauding her to join the candidacy for the [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] Secretary-General post where the elected Secretary-General will be positioned for 2018. Among other candidates for the position are AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes of Malaysia and an unstated representative from Brunei, which is the lead country for 2018–2022 according to tradition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investvine.com/airasia-chiefs-futile-bid-to-become-asean-secretary-general/|title=AirAsia chief's futile to become ASEAN Secretary-General|first=Arno|last=Maierbrugger|date=August 17, 2015|access-date=September 8, 2016|archive-date=March 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308103553/http://investvine.com/airasia-chiefs-futile-bid-to-become-asean-secretary-general/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

She was branded a "Distinguished Icon of Legal Excellence and Public Service" by the [[University of the Philippines]] in September 2016,<ref name="philstar.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/08/26/1617338/morales-named-icon-legal-excellence-public-service|title=Morales named icon of legal excellence, public service|work=The Philippine Star|access-date=September 30, 2016}}</ref> and posthumously 
the "PUP Online Personality of the Year Award" by the [[Polytechnic University of the Philippines]] in November 2016.<ref name="news.abs-cbn.com">{{cite web|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/29/16/miriam-defensor-santiago-is-pups-online-personality-of-the-year|title=Miriam Defensor Santiago is PUP's 'Online Personality of the Year'|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=December 16, 2017}}</ref>

===Death===
[[File:President Rodrigo Duterte pays tribute to Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago during her wake at the Cathedral Grottos in Cubao, Quezon City on October 2, 2016 (Ph02-100216 AAA2-1).jpg|thumb|President [[Rodrigo Duterte]] attends the wake of Defensor Santiago at the Cubao Cathedral on October 2, 2016.]]

At the age of 71, Defensor Santiago died in her sleep at exactly 8:52&nbsp;a.m. [[Philippine Standard Time|PHT]] ([[UTC+8|UTC+08:00]]) on September 29, 2016, while she was confined at the [[St. Luke's Medical Center - Global City]] in [[Taguig]] from [[lung cancer]]; several reports cited that Defensor Santiago died in her residence in La Vista Subdivision, [[Quezon City]].<ref name="miriamdiedinquirer">{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/820199/miriam-defensor-santiago-passes-away-at-71|title=Miriam Defensor-Santiago passes away at 71|first=Juliet Javellana, Maila|last=Ager|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}}</ref><ref name="midiamdiedabscbn">{{cite news|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/29/16/miriam-defensor-santiago-passes-away|title=Miriam Defensor Santiago passes away|work=ABS-CBN News}}</ref> Santiago's last words according to her husband were, "I accept this. I do not want to do anything heroic."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/820213/miriams-last-words-i-accept-this-i-dont-want-to-do-anything-heroic|title=Miriam's last words: 'I accept this. I don't want to do anything heroic'|last=Balana|first=Cynthia D.|date=September 29, 2016|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref> While her last wish was to remain only in the memory of her own family,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/03/16/family-bares-miriam-santiagos-last-wish|title=Family bares Miriam Santiago's last wish|date=October 3, 2016|work=ABS-CBN News|access-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref> her body [[lying in state|lay in state]] at the Cathedral Grottos of the [[Cubao Cathedral|Immaculate Conception Cathedral]] in [[Quezon City#Cubao|Cubao]] the following day.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/583404/news/nation/miriam-s-wake-a-sea-of-red-as-supporters-pay-last-respects|title=Miriam's wake a sea of red as supporters pay last respects |work=[[GMA Network]]|date=September 30, 2016|access-date=October 1, 2016}}</ref> 
[[File:Miriam_Defensor_Santiago_mausoleum3.jpg|thumb|Tomb of Defensor Santiago and her son Alexander at [[Loyola Memorial Park]], [[Marikina]]]]
Following a Catholic [[Requiem|funeral Mass]], she was interred at the [[Loyola Memorial Park]] in [[Marikina]] on October 2, beside the tomb of her son, Alexander, who died in 2003.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/147754-santiago-burial-october-2-marikina |title=Miriam Defensor Santiago to be buried on October 2 in Marikina |work=[[Rappler]]|date=September 29, 2016|access-date=October 1, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pasion|first1=Patty|title=Miriam Defensor Santiago laid to rest|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/147939-miriam-defensor-santiago-buried|access-date=October 2, 2016|work=Rappler|date=October 2, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://kickerdaily.com/posts/2016/09/granting-wish-santiago-will-be-buried-beside-her-son/ |title=Granting her wish, Santiago will be buried beside her son |author=San Jose, Clarissa E. |work=Kicker Daily News|date=September 29, 2016|access-date=October 1, 2016}}</ref> Santiago's hometown, [[Iloilo City]], declared a day of mourning for Defensor Santiago<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/29/16/iloilo-city-declares-day-of-mourning-for-miriam-santiago |title=Iloilo City declares day of mourning for Miriam Santiago |work=ABS-CBN News |date=September 29, 2016 |access-date=October 11, 2019}}</ref> and flew the Philippine flag half-mast from September 29 – October 17, 2016. The local government said in an official statement that Defensor Santiago 'brought pride and honor to all Ilonggos'.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mindanao.politics.com.ph/iloilo-to-fly-flag-at-half-mast-for-miriam-till-oct-7/ |title=Iloilo to fly flag at half-mast for Miriam till Oct 7 - Politiko Mindanao |publisher=Mindanao.politics.com.ph |date=September 30, 2016 |access-date=October 11, 2019}}</ref>

In June 2017, members of the [[Youth Reform Movement]] lobbied for the posthumous awarding of the [[Quezon Service Cross]] to Defensor Santiago. In September 2017, Senator [[Grace Poe]], her freedom of information (FOI) ally and 2016 presidential rival, nominated Defensor Santiago to be awarded the Quezon Service Cross, the highest honor in the entire Republic, subject for approval of both houses of Congress and by President [[Rodrigo Duterte]], who was another 2016 presidential rival. On the same month, Senator [[Sonny Angara]], who considers Defensor Santiago as his mentor, followed suit by filing another resolution nominating Defensor Santiago to become a laureate of the prestigious Quezon Service Cross, just days before Defensor Santiago's first death anniversary on September 29. The Senate expressed its full intent to confer Defensor Santiago the award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/26/17/senators-nominate-miriam-defensor-santiago-for-highest-civil-service-award-days-before-death-anniversary|title=Senators nominate Miriam Defensor Santiago for highest civil service award days before death anniversary|website=ABS-CBN news|access-date=December 16, 2017}}</ref> The president, through the [[Malacañang Palace]], welcomed the proposal to bestow the award to Defensor Santiago once both houses of Congress have ratified the document conferring such award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/28/17/palace-welcomes-proposal-granting-highest-civil-service-award-for-miriam|title=Palace welcomes proposal granting highest civil service award for Miriam|first=Dharel|last=Placido|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=December 16, 2017}}</ref> The House of Representatives is the only body left that has yet to express its intent to bestow the award to Defensor Santiago. Most members of the House are against Defensor Santiago's anti-political dynasty bill which she introduced in Congress. Santiago's bill is backed by the Constitution itself, where it mandates both chambers of Congress to enact such a law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/627525/palace-supports-senators-call-to-honor-miriam-highest-civilian-award/story/|title=Palace supports senators' call to honor Miriam highest civilian award|website=GMA News Online|date=September 28, 2017 |access-date=December 16, 2017}}</ref> 

On December 5, 2017, the president officially nominated Defensor Santiago for the award, awaiting concurrence of both chambers of Congress to officially bestow the award. Defensor Santiago is the sixth person and the first and only woman to be nominated for the award. She is the sixth person to be immortalized in the 69-year old national roster.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/190505-miriam-santiago-quezon-service-cross-nomination-duterte|title=Duterte nominates Miriam Santiago for Quezon Service Cross|website=Rappler|date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=December 16, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/06/17/duterte-nominates-miriam-santiago-for-highest-civil-service-award|title=Duterte nominates Miriam Santiago for highest civil service award|first=Dharel|last=Placido|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=December 16, 2017}}</ref> On December 11, 2017, the Senate approved the bestowing of the award to Defensor Santiago.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/191060-senate-resolution-quezon-service-cross-miriam-defensor-santiago|title=Senate approves highest civilian award for Miriam Santiago|website=Rappler|date=December 11, 2017 |access-date=December 16, 2017}}</ref> On February 20, 2018, the House of Representatives approved the bestowing of the award to Defensor Santiago.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.interaksyon.com/house-joins-senate-in-endorsing-quezon-service-cross-for-miriam-santiago/ |title=House joins Senate in endorsing Quezon Service Cross for Miriam Santiago |newspaper=[[Interaksyon]] |access-date=October 11, 2019}}</ref> On December 3, 2018, the prestigious [[Quezon Service Cross]] was officially posthumously conferred upon Santiago, making her the sixth recipient and first and only woman to be included in the country's highest accolade and roster.<ref name="6thRecipient" />

On October 12, 2023, Republic Act No. 11963 was enacted to jointly rename Agham Road and BIR Road in [[Triangle Park (Quezon City)|Triangle Park]], Quezon City as Senator Miriam P. Defensor Santiago Avenue in her honor.<ref>{{cite PH act|chamber=RA|number=11963|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2023/10/12/republic-act-no-11963/|title=An Act Renaming the Agham Road and the Bir Road, Stretching From North Avenue, Traversing Through Quezon Avenue, Up to East Avenue, All Located in Quezon City, as Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue/|date=October 12, 2023|accessdate=March 29, 2024|publisher=[[Official Gazette (Philippines)|Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines]]}}</ref>

==Political positions==
===Domestic policy===
====Federalism====
{{see also|Federalism in the Philippines}}
Defensor Santiago is not in favor of [[federalism]], stating in one interview that if the country would turn Federalist, "[That] the masses and the entire electorate will not [be able to] choose who the president will be. We leave that choice to a group of politicians, and we know how those politicians act. Mostly, their actions are always attended by corruption."<ref name="TRANSCRIPT OF THE INTERVIEW WITH  SEN. MIRIAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGO After her speech for the Maynilad Leadership Talk at GT-Toyota Center, UP Diliman">{{cite web |last1=Defensor-Santiago |first1=Miriam |title=Press Release |url=http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2015/0325_santiago3.asp |website=Senate of the Philippines |publisher=Office of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>

====Charter Change====
{{see also|Constitutional reform in the Philippines}}
Defensor Santiago was in favor of amending the [[Constitution of the Philippines]] to enhance foreign investments in the country and to mandate that all high posts in government (senator, representative, president, vice president, governor, mayor, vice mayor, secretaries, undersecretaries, etc.) should have additional qualifications which are 'a college graduate' and must pass a duly-accredited government examination. Numerous politicians in the country are only high school or elementary graduates, and most college graduate officials have never passed the Civil Service Examination for Professionals (CSE-P). She argues that positions in government like administrative assistant must pass the CSE-P as a qualification, 'why not higher posts too?'.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/03/21/1303543/miriam-cha-cha-ok-if-it-disqualifies-idiots-presidential-race |title=Miriam: Cha-cha OK if it disqualifies 'idiots' from presidential race |work=The Philippine Star |date=March 21, 2014 |access-date=October 11, 2019}}</ref>

Santiago, the then chairwoman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, said she was in favor of shifting to a parliamentary form of government in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/02/17/11/miriam-bent-pursuing-cha-cha-year |title=Miriam bent on pursuing Cha-cha this year |first=Ryan |last=Chua |work=ABS-CBN News| date=February 17, 2011}}</ref>

====Anti-political dynasty====
{{see also|Political dynasties in the Philippines}}
Defensor Santiago was the principal author of the Anti-Dynasty Bill in the Senate and had been pushing for its immediate passage in Congress for more than a decade.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/08/07/15/miriam-dares-2016-bets-back-anti-epal-anti-dynasty-bills|title=Miriam dares 2016 bets: Back anti-epal, anti-dynasty bills|date=August 7, 2015|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=April 24, 2019}}</ref>

====West Philippines Sea dispute====
{{see also|Territorial disputes in the South China Sea}}
She stressed during a live debate that the [[West Philippine Sea]] is a sovereign territory of the Philippines and that the country should have a better military and police force and assets and should prioritize enhancing ties with allied nations, especially in the [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] (ASEAN).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://globalnation.inquirer.net/137323/miriam-ph-has-become-complacent-over-south-china-sea-dispute|title=Miriam: PH has become complacent over South China Sea dispute|last=Mangosing|first=Frances|date=March 3, 2016|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date=April 24, 2019}}</ref> She was one of the international law experts who criticized China and aided in the Philippine case against China. The case was won by the Philippines in 2016. Despite this, China still does not recognize the ruling.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/12/philippines-wins-south-china-sea-case-against-china|title=Beijing rejects tribunal's ruling in South China Sea case|author1=Phillips, Tom|author2=Holmes, Oliver|author3=Bowcott, Owen|date=July 12, 2016|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=April 24, 2019 }}</ref>

====Mindanao====
{{see also|Moro conflict}}
Defensor Santiago was against the [[Bangsamoro Basic Law]], saying it is unconstitutional because it specifies that Bangsamoro will become a 'sub-state' of the republic which is illegal under the law. She prefers a more constitutional form of the Bangsamoro Basic Law which does not create a 'sub-state' government.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/special-coverage/peacetalks/83770-miriam-santiago-bangsamoro-basic-law-milf|title=Miriam: Bangsamoro law can be fine-tuned; MILF can't be trusted|date=February 12, 2015|website=Rappler|access-date=April 24, 2019}}</ref>

====North Borneo dispute====
{{see also|North Borneo dispute}}
Defensor Santiago was in favor of appointing a third-party to conduct under international law "inquiry and fact-finding" to resolve the [[North Borneo dispute]], where the third-party is approved by both the national governments of Malaysia and the Philippines. She cited the [[Hague Convention of 1907|1907 Hague Convention]] for the Pacific Settlement of Disputes as motivator of her legal position. She said that this can end the dispute as it did in the [[1981 Seychelles coup d'état attempt|1981 involvement of mercenaries in an invasion of the Seychelles]], the [[Iran–Iraq War#Iraq's use of chemical weapons|1987 use of chemical weapons in the Gulf War between Iran and Iraq]], and the [[Korean Air Lines Flight 007|1988 destruction of Korean Air Lines Boeing 747]]. She said that since no transfer of sovereignty was involved in the 1878 Deed, no transfer of sovereignty has ever passed to Malaysia. She added that the Philippines has never abandoned its claim over eastern Sabah.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/299478/news/nation/miriam-seeks-third-party-inquiry-on-sabah-crisis|title=Miriam seeks third-party inquiry on Sabah crisis|work=GMA News Online|date=March 15, 2013 }}</ref>

===Social policy===
====Divorce====
Defensor Santiago publicly advocated for the passage of a divorce law in the Philippines, saying, "Why would you force [couples] to be together if they want to kill each other by mere sight?" With respect to her position on divorce, she clarified that it should be restricted on two grounds: "an attempt on the life of the spouse by the other" and "when one spouse is already living with another person, that is adultery or [[concubinage]]." In the [[2016 Philippine presidential election|2016 Presidential campaign]], despite being unable to attend the second debate citing health concerns, she reiterated on [[Twitter]] her position on divorce,<ref name="interaksyon.com">{{cite news |url=http://interaksyon.com/article/50813/sen--miriam-favors-divorce-only-on-two-grounds |title=Sen. Miriam favors divorce only on two grounds |author=Reyes, Karl John C. |website=Interaksyon |date=December 19, 2012 |access-date=September 8, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825203026/http://interaksyon.com/article/50813/sen--miriam-favors-divorce-only-on-two-grounds |archive-date=August 25, 2016}}</ref> leaving her as the only presidential candidate to favor its legislation.<ref name="presidentialbet">{{cite news|last1=Rodriguez|first1=Fritzie|title=Presidential bets on RH, divorce, and LGBT rights|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/123546-presidential-bet-gender-equality|access-date=February 17, 2017|work=[[Rappler]]|date=February 25, 2016}}</ref>

====Abortion and contraception====
Defensor-Santiago took a critical perspective of [[abortion]] and supports maintaining laws against it: "No to abortion, never. I am a very avid supporter of RH [Reproductive Health] Law, but I will definitely fight to the death against abortion as a lawyer, not necessarily as a religious person. I equate it properly with the crime of murder."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/12/19/12/miriam-yes-divorce-law-no-abortion |title=Miriam: Yes to divorce law, no to abortion|work=[[ABS-CBN News]]|date=December 20, 2012|access-date=March 30, 2018}}</ref> On contraception, she stressed the importance of its distribution, especially in poverty-stricken areas.<ref name="interaksyon.com"/> She was a strong proponent of the Philippines' [[Reproductive Health Law]], which guarantees universal access to methods on contraception, maternal health and [[sex education]].<ref name="MDS">{{cite web|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/88686-miriam-reflections-god-religion|last=Macaraig|first=Ayee|title=Miriam on God, hell and the middle finger|work=[[Rappler]]|date=April 2, 2015|access-date=August 7, 2016}}</ref> According to her, the bill was shelved for more than 13 years, citing the [[Catholic Church in the Philippines|Catholic Church]]'s opposition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/18730-rh-law-the-long-and-rough-road|title=RH law: The long and rough road|author=Fonbuena, Carmela |work=[[Rappler]]|date=December 30, 2012 |access-date=September 8, 2016}}</ref> Defensor Santiago expressed dismay when the RH Law had suffered a one-billion peso budget cut before the [[Congress of the Philippines|Congress]] in early 2016. She said if she will be elected, she will work for a full and conscientious implementation of the law.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/01/09/1540764/senators-slam-rh-budget-cut|title=Senators slam RH budget cut|author=Sy, Marvin|website=The Philippine Star|access-date=September 8, 2016}}</ref>

====LGBT rights====
Defensor Santiago magnified the issues concerning the LGBT community before the Senate. In the wake of the [[Orlando nightclub shooting]], she said in a Twitter post, "The mass shooting at a club in Orlando is appalling and heartbreaking" and "I long for the day when the LGBT community no longer has to live in fear of discrimination and hate crimes".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/06/13/1592548/senators-express-shock-over-orlando-mass-shooting|title=Senators express shock over Orlando mass shooting|author=Viray, Patricia Lourdes|work=The Philippine Star|access-date=September 8, 2016}}</ref> Defensor Santiago was one of the senators who advocated the immediate investigation of [[Death of Jennifer Laude|the Jennifer Laude case]], wherein the American marine, Joseph Scott Pemberton, killed Laude, a Filipina [[transgender]] woman, in Subic, Zambales. She also supported the passage of the anti-discrimination bill ([[SOGIE Equality Bill]]) which protects the rights of people of different sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. She was the first senator in Philippine history to push for the bill's legislation, filing it repeatedly since 2000.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/72528-miriam-barbie-senate-probe|title=Miriam wants 'Barbie' in Senate probe on Laude death|author=Fonbuena, Carmela|work=Rappler|date=October 20, 2014|access-date=September 8, 2016}}</ref>

====Capital punishment====
Defensor Santiago favored the [[capital punishment|death penalty]] but limited it to heinous crimes, while maintaining that the justice system should be improved.<ref name="Miriamcandidate">{{cite news|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/03/20/Pilipinas-Debates-2016-Santiago-Duterte-Poe-Binay-Roxas.html|title=Despite absence, Defensor Santiago makes presence felt through social media|work=CNN Philippines|access-date=September 8, 2016|archive-date=March 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323162405/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/03/20/Pilipinas-Debates-2016-Santiago-Duterte-Poe-Binay-Roxas.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Environment====
Defensor Santiago vehemently opposed mining. She believes mining is one of the greatest reasons why local communities are impoverished as most of the profit coming from mining are siphoned by mining companies away from the local economy. In addition, mining has made numerous destructive advances in Philippine society and ecosystems, destroying watersheds and agricultural lands, as well as rivers and seas. According to an interview conducted by [[Haribon Foundation]] during the 2016 Presidential Campaign, the organization voted her as the "greenest" in all of the candidates. She was the main author of the Climate Change Law and the Renewable Energies Law in the Senate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/04/19/1574455/miriam-greenest-mar-meanest-environmentalists|title=Miriam 'greenest', Mar 'meanest' for environmentalists|author=Dumlao, Artemio|website=The Philippine Star|date=April 19, 2016|access-date=September 8, 2016}}</ref>

====Internet====
Defensor Santiago advocated the establishment of the Department of Information which is mandated to speed-up internet connectivity in the Philippines which she described "the worst internet speed in Asia". She also advocated for the passage of the Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom which protects the rights and freedoms of Filipinos in cyberspace, while defining and penalizing [[cybercrime]]s.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/07/03/961171/its-miriams-internet-freedom-bill-vs-anti-cybercrime-law |title=It's Miriam's Internet Freedom bill vs Anti-Cybercrime Law |author=Bacani, Louis|work=The Philippine Stardate=3 July 2013|access-date=September 8, 2016}}</ref>

====Transportation====
Defensor Santiago advocated the establishment of a completely new railway system from Manila to Sorsogon and a new high-speed transit system connecting Metro Manila to Pampanga, Bulacan. Rizal, Batangas, Laguna, and Cavite. She also advocated the establishment of a new modernized airport and the establishment of new projects in every province in the entire country.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/124277-miriam-santiago-public-infrastructure|title=Modern airport, train systems: Miriam vows better public infra|work=Rappler|date=March 1, 2016|access-date=September 8, 2016}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
[[File:President Rodrigo Duterte posthumously confers the Quezon Service Cross Award to the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago during a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace on December 3, 2018.jpg|thumb|President [[Rodrigo Duterte]] (3rd from left) posthumously confers the [[Quezon Service Cross]] to Defensor Santiago at the Malacañan Palace on December 3, 2018. Accepting the award is the Defensor Santiago's husband, Narciso Santiago, Jr.]]
[[File:Senator_Miriam_P._Defensor_Santiago_Avenue_Sign.png|150px|thumbnail|right|Senator Miriam P. Defensor Santiago Avenue street sign ]]

* [[Ramon Magsaysay Award]] for Government Service, 1988, Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize, Magsaysay Awards Foundation<ref name="rmaf.org.ph"/><ref name="SenateGovPH-Miriam">{{cite web |title=Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago |url=https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/santiago_cvitae.asp |website=[[Senate of the Philippines]] |access-date=17 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004204001/https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/santiago_cvitae.asp |archive-date=October 4, 2020}}</ref>
* TOYM Award for Law, 1985 (The Outstanding Young Men) Opened to Women 1984, Philippine Jaycees<ref name="SenateGovPH-Miriam" />
* TOWNS Award for Law, 1986 (The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service), Philippine Lions<ref name="SenateGovPH-Miriam" />
* Philippine Judges' Hall of Fame, 2015, Philippine Judges Association<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/miriam-inducted-to-hall-of-fame-of-ph-judges/|title=Miriam inducted to Hall of Fame of PH judges|work=Manila Bulletin|access-date=April 15, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408004419/http://www.mb.com.ph/miriam-inducted-to-hall-of-fame-of-ph-judges/|archive-date=April 8, 2016}}</ref>
* Most Outstanding Alumna in Law, University of the Philippines, 1988<ref name="uprotc.org"/><ref name="SenateGovPH-Miriam" />
* Gold Vision Triangle Award for government service, 1988, YMCA Philippines<ref name="SenateGovPH-Miriam" />
* Republic Anniversary Award for law enforcement, 1988, Civic Assembly of Women of the Philippines<ref name="SenateGovPH-Miriam" />
* Golden Jubilee Achievement Award for public service, 1990, Girl Scouts of the Philippines<ref name="SenateGovPH-Miriam" />
* Celebrity Mother Award, 1991, Gintong Ina Awards Foundation<ref name="SenateGovPH-Miriam" />
* Spain – Grand Cross of the [[Order of Civil Merit]] (November 30, 2007)<ref>{{cite web|title=Real Decreto 1591/2007, de 30 de noviembre, por el que se concede la Gran Cruz de la Orden del Mérito Civil a los señores que se citan|url=http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2007/12/01/pdfs/A49782-49782.pdf|publisher=Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE)|access-date=November 27, 2015}}</ref>
* Distinguished Icon of Legal Excellence and Public Service Award (September 2, 2016)<ref name="philstar.com"/>
* PUP Online Personality of the Year 2016<ref name="news.abs-cbn.com"/>
*[[File:PHL Quezon Service Cross BAR.png|45px]]: [[Quezon Service Cross]] - (December 3, 2018, Posthumous)<ref name="6thRecipient" />

==Writings==
Defensor Santiago wrote at least 30 books, many of which are about law and social sciences.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Among her works is the ''Code Annotated Series Project 2000'', a series of books about laws passed by the Philippine Congress and Supreme Court decisions. The ''Code Annotated Series'' is the main part of Defensor Santiago's Legal Outreach Program.<ref name="twonewbooks">{{cite news|title=Santiago has 2 new law books|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QFM1AAAAIBAJ&pg=1374%2C2109322|access-date=February 10, 2016|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=April 3, 2000}}</ref> During her initial battle with cancer, she continued to work on the 2014 edition of all her law books.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> These were published as the 2015 edition of her ''Code Annotated Series'', by Rex Bookstore.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rexestore.com/law-textbooks/1339-rules-of-court-annotated-vol-ii-pb.html?search_query=miriam+defensor+santiago&results=24|title=Rules of Court Annotated Vol. II (PB)|work=Rex e-Store|access-date=April 15, 2016}}</ref>

The doctoral dissertation she wrote for the [[University of Michigan]] was published as a book, ''Political Offences in International Law''.<ref name="iccprofile">{{cite web|title=Judge Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO (Philippines)|url=https://www.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/icc/structure%20of%20the%20court/chambers/the%20judges/Pages/judge%20miriam%20defensor_santiago%20_philippines_.aspx|publisher=International Criminal Court|access-date=February 10, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925220701/http://www.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/icc/structure%20of%20the%20court/chambers/the%20judges/Pages/judge%20miriam%20defensor_santiago%20_philippines_.aspx|archive-date=September 25, 2015}}</ref> She wrote two autobiographies, ''Inventing Myself''<ref>{{cite book|last=Defensor Santiago|first=Miriam|title=Inventing Myself|publisher=New Day Publishers of the Christian Literature Society of the Philippines, Inc.|date=1994|isbn=971-10-0552-2}}</ref> and ''Cutting Edge: The Politics of Reform in the Philippines,''<ref>{{cite book|last=Defensor Santiago|first=Miriam|title=Cutting Edge: The Politics of Reform in the Philippines|publisher=Woman Today Publications|date=1994|isbn=971-49-0003-4}}</ref> the latter being praised by UK Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/25853-dragon-lady-miriam-on-thatcher-i-idolize-her|title=Dragon Lady Miriam on Thatcher: I idolize her|last=Macaraig|first=Ayee|date=April 9, 2013|work=Rappler|access-date=April 24, 2019}}</ref>

She published a joke book in 2014, ''[[Stupid is Forever (book)|Stupid is Forever]]'', a collection of jokes, comebacks, one-liners, and pick-up lines she used in speeches.<ref>{{cite news|title=Miriam: 'I've heard millions of stupid things in the Senate'|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/76889-miriam-santiago-book-stupid-forever|access-date=February 10, 2016|work=Rappler|date=December 3, 2014}}</ref> A sequel, titled ''[[Stupid is Forevermore]]'', was published a year later. Both books were published by ABS-CBN Publishing.<ref>{{cite news|title=Miriam launches new humor book on 70th birthday|url=http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Weekender&title=The-wit-and-humor-of-Miriam-Defensor-Santiago&id=110314|access-date=February 10, 2016|newspaper=[[BusinessWorld]]|date=June 15, 2015|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028152430/https://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Weekender&title=The-wit-and-humor-of-Miriam-Defensor-Santiago&id=110314|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first book was named the best-selling book of 2014, selling about 110,000 copies in one month.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sen. Miriam's 'stupid' book now a bestseller|url=http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2015/01/25/1416403/sen.-miriams-stupid-book-now-bestseller|work=The Philippine Star|access-date=February 10, 2016}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Defensor Santiago grew up in a middle-class erudite household with both parents having higher educational attainments. She is the eldest among her siblings: Benjamin, Nenalyn, Douglas, Marciano, Linnea, and Paula Dimpna Beatriz; 4 of which are lawyers. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/10/02/16/watch-miriams-sister-thanks-god-family-fans |title=WATCH: Miriam's sister thanks God, family, fans |work=[[ABS-CBN News]] |date=October 2, 2016 |access-date=October 2, 2016}}</ref>

She was married to Narciso "Jun" Santiago Jr.,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/focus/05/04/16/narciso-jun-santiago-miriams-shock-absorber|last=Alberto-Masakayan|first=Theas|title=Narciso 'Jun' Santiago, Miriam's shock absorber|work=[[ABS-CBN News]]|date=May 4, 2016|access-date=August 7, 2016}}</ref> with whom she had two sons, Narciso III (Archie) and Alexander (A.R.); Alexander committed suicide in 2003.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/228820/%C2%91miriam-son-suicide%C2%92|title=Miriam son a suicide|work=[[The Philippine Star]]|date=November 22, 2003|access-date=August 7, 2016}}</ref> The couple adopted four children; Megan Santiago, Mallory Santiago, Mackenzie Santiago, and Morven Santiago.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/people-people/595336/miriam-defensor-santiago-motherhood-also-becomes-her |title=Miriam Defensor Santiago: Motherhood also becomes her |author=Roco, Denise |work=The Philippine Star |date=July 22, 2010 |access-date=October 1, 2016}}</ref> She and her husband renewed their wedding vows on their 40th wedding anniversary in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/06/20/11/miriam-backs-divorce-bill-renews-vows|title=Miriam backs divorce bill, renews wedding vows|work=ABS-CBN News|access-date=September 29, 2016}}</ref> She has close relationships with actress and visual artist, [[Heart Evangelista]], who she has mentored.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/09/29/16/heart-thanks-miriam-for-showing-her-so-much-of-the-world |title=Heart thanks Miriam for showing her 'so much of the world' |work=ABS-CBN News |date=September 29, 2016 |access-date=October 11, 2019}}</ref>

===Religious views===
In general, Defensor Santiago had a complex relationship with religion, at times affirming her membership in the Catholic Church<ref name="Stupid is Forever">{{cite book|last1=Defensor Santiago|first1=Miriam|title=[[Stupid is Forever]]|date=August 6, 2023 |publisher=[[ABS-CBN Publishing]]|isbn=978-971-816-127-2|page=14|quote=I sponsored and defended the Reproductive Health Law, although I am a Catholic. In the Catholic church, a woman to avoid a pregnancy is allowed to resort to mathematics. Thank God, now Catholic women are allowed to resort to physics and chemistry!}}</ref> while at other times heavily criticizing and even entertaining the nonexistence of the [[God|Christian god]].<ref name="MDS"/> In 2012, she cited [[Ecclesiastes]] as her favorite book in the Bible and had once considered becoming a nun.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/790289/miriam-santiago-love-loss-and-her-home|last=Silvestre|first=Jojo G.|title=Miriam Santiago on love, loss and her home|work=The Philippine Star|date=March 25, 2012|access-date=August 7, 2016}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]'' years after the death of her son who committed suicide, she said:{{Blockquote|text=The only thing I know about God is that God is inscrutable. In other words, I don't know a single thing about God. I'm clueless about what God is. Maybe Jesus, or the other historical figures around which religions had been built, would be more approachable. But God itself, being on a divine level, I think it's just impermeable to human intelligence. And there is a very famous classical book called ''[[The Cloud of Unknowing]]''. There's always a cloud of unknowing over God. I think that, since God is inaccessible to people, we tend to portray Him in anthropomorphic terms. We think of the best qualities in every person and you try and project it on a giant scale on God. So in effect, God is a man-made concept. We have no clue what God is.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.esquiremagazine.ph/culture/miriam-defensor-santiago-is-not-insane|title=Miriam Defensor Santiago is not insane|author=Romulo, Erwin T.|work=Esquire|date=13 December 2011|access-date=8 September 2016|archive-date=August 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821113404/http://www.esquiremagazine.ph/culture/miriam-defensor-santiago-is-not-insane|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}

She stated in a separate interview in 2015:{{Blockquote|text=I do not understand why God can be all love and still inflict this kind of pain on people. This God is an underachiever. He does not do whatever he is supposed to be doing, whatever his sex is. Whether he's an it or a she or a he or whatever. But I'm sure that if you were a god or if I were the God, I would be doing a better job. Therefore, the only conclusion can be that possibly, God does not exist.<ref name="MDS"/>}}

In the same interview, she affirmed her views on secularism in the country.

{{Blockquote|text=The Catholic Church is not the official state religion... it has to exhibit an attitude of tolerance to the other religions because the rule in constitutional law is the state should be neutral to all religions, plus those who have no religion at all—the atheists and the agnostics.<ref name="MDS"/>}}

The views she shared in 2015 seem to conflict with both her views in her book ''Stupid is Forever'' (published just a year prior to the 2015 interview) where she mentions her defense of the Reproductive Health Law in spite of her asserting her [[Catholicism]],<ref name="Stupid is Forever"/> and an interview in 2016 where when asked what she does as both the last thing she does before going to sleep and first thing she does when waking up is "pray".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2016/05/03/1579094/body-talk-miriam-defensor-santiago|last=Lo|first=Ricky|title=Body Talk with Miriam Defensor-Santiago|website=The Philippine Star|date=May 3, 2016|access-date=August 7, 2016}}</ref>{{Original research inline|date=October 2024}}

Defensor Santiago was featured in an episode of ABS-CBN's drama anthology ''[[Maalaala Mo Kaya]]'' in 2003 where [[Tessie Tomas]], [[Julia Clarete]], [[Maja Salvador]], and [[Miles Ocampo]] played the role of Defensor Santiago in different ages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmk.abs-cbn.com/episode/the-miriam-defensor-santiago-story|title=Maalaala Mo Kaya: THE MIRIAM DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO STORY (2016)|website=Maalaala Mo Kaya|language=en|access-date=January 19, 2020|archive-date=September 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922101827/http://mmk.abs-cbn.com/episode/the-miriam-defensor-santiago-story|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2016, [[GMA Network]]'s television drama anthology ''[[Wagas]]'' featured the story of Defensor Santiago and her husband Narciso, where she was played by [[Heart Evangelista]].<ref>{{cite news |title='Wagas' pays tribute to Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2016/09/30/lifestyle-entertainment/show-times/wagas-pays-tribute-to-sen-miriam-defensor-santiago/288711/ |access-date=June 13, 2020 |work=The Manila Times |date=September 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dimaculangan |first1=Jocelyn |title=Heart Evangelista depicts love story of the late Miriam Santiago on Wagas |url=https://www.pep.ph/guide/tv/24715/heart-evangelista-depicts-love-story-of-the-late-miriam-santiago-on-emwagasem |access-date=June 13, 2020 |work=[[Philippine Entertainment Portal]] |date=October 1, 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Youth Reform Movement]]
* [[Senate of the Philippines]]
* [[Miriam Defensor Santiago 2016 presidential campaign]]
* [[People's Reform Party]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commonscat-inline}}
* [http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/santiago_cvitae.asp Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago] - Senate of the Philippines

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