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Marcos remembers seatmate; Enrile holds no grudges
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Losing vice presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. remembers his running mate, the late Miriam Defensor-Santiago, for her jokes and intelligence.
Marcos said the Philippines will surely miss the Ilongga senator, considered one of the country’s best legal minds, especially on international law and treaties.
“Words cannot begin to express the deep sadness that not only my family and I but the entire country feels,” he said in a statement. “Palagi ko siyang katabi sa Senado. Kumbaga sa eskwelahan, siya ang palagi kong kinokopyahan.”
Santiago, who has stage 4 lung cancer, passed away on Thursday morning at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City. According to her husband, Narciso, she died in her sleep. She was 71.
“Our beacon of wisdom, intelligence, and ever-present humor and good sense has flickered out,” said Marcos. “She leaves the world less wise, less bright and sadder.”
Aside from being seatmates in the Senate, Santiago and Marcos teamed up during the May elections. Santiago lost to President Rodrigo Duterte, while Marcos placed second to Vice President Leni Robredo.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this very, very sad time,” said Marcos. “We take solace knowing that now there will be fewer tears in heaven.”
NO GRUDGES
Meanwhile, former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile described her wedding goddaughter and erstwhile rival Santiago as a “very articulate and perceptive” senator.
The two had a bitter clash in the Senate three years ago when Santiago described Enrile as “master plunderer” and “hypersexual serial womanizer.”
“I am praying for her. May she rest in peace and with the Lord,” Enrile said in an interview. “Nakalimutan ko na iyong (bangayan namin). Hindi naman ako nagtatanim ng sama ng loob kahit kanino.”
But Enrile is unsure if he can attend the necrological services the Senate will prepare for their late colleague since he is spending most of his time in the province after posting bail in his pork barrel scam case.
‘AGE-, GENDER-PROOF’
With Santiago’s passing, the country lost one of its “most vocal and feisty defender of our nation’s sovereignty,” said House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
“We would also miss not only her trademark colorful language that stung foes and chastised incompetent officials, but also for her cutting intelligence and wit that endeared her to a horde of youthful followers,” Alvarez said.
Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte and Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo also expressed their condolences.
“We lost a pillar in the Senate,” said Suarez. “Looking at … how she performed all these years, it may be difficult to find somebody who can duplicate what she has done.”
Belmonte said: “We will miss her intelligence, wit and vast legal expertise, which she has shared as university professor and [helped her become] the first Asian elected judge in the International Criminal Court.”
“Unlike many of her contemporaries,” Quimpo said, “she managed to capture the idolatry of people from all ages, especially the young. Her appeal was age- and gender-proof.”/PN
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