Miriam Defensor-Santiago

EFFECTIVEEMPOWERINGETHICAL

Education[endnoteRef:1] [1: "Miriam Defensor-Santiago." University of the Philippines Reserve Officers Training Corps RSS. Accessed January 25, 2016. http://www.uprotc.org/directory/corps-sponsors/miriam-defensor-santiago.html.]

B.A. Political Science, UP Visayas (1965) Bachelor of Law, UP Diliman (1969) Master of Law, University of Michigan Law School, USA (1975) Doctor of Judicial Science, University of Michigan Law School, USA (1976)Work Experience[endnoteRef:2] [2: Defensor Santiago, Miriam. "Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago Curriculum Vitae." Senate of the Philippines, 16th Congress. August 2014. Accessed January 25, 2016. http://senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/santiago_cvitae.asp.]

Senator (1995-2001, 2004-2016) Senior Partner, Santiago Law Firm (1992-present) Secretary of Agrarian Reform (1989) Commission on Immigration and Deportation (1988-1989) Law Professor, UP (1976-1988) Presiding Judge, Regional Trial Court (1983-1987) Legal Officer, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (1979-1980)Government Committees Chaired[endnoteRef:3] [3: Ibid]

Committee on Foreign Relations Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Automated Election System Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Overseas Absentee Voting Act Commission on Appointments, Committee on Foreign Affairs Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement Committee on Economic Affairs Special Oversight Committee on Economic AffairsLaws Principally Authored[endnoteRef:4] [4: "Bills - Senate of the Philippines." Senate of the Philippines 16th Congress. Accessed January 25, 2016. http://www.senate.gov.ph/lis/leg_sys.aspx?congress=16.Note: No info available on bills authored prior to 2004. ]

Principal author of 2919 bills from the 13th 19th Congress. Of these, 94 have become law or were consolidated/substituted for bills that became law. These laws include: The Student Athlete Protection Act of 2014 Animal Welfare Act Philippine Standard Time Act of 2012 Reproductive Health Act of 2012 Anti-Image Voyeurism Act of 2008 Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 2008 Real Estate Service Act of the Philippines Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Anti-Camcording Act of 2009 Biofuels Act of 2006Programs Enacted As a trial court judge, she handled a record of fifty cases a month by refusing to tolerate delays and postponements, improved efficiency by introducing a streamlined, "user-friendly" immigration procedures, [as well as] an Express Lane Service and a self-deportation with amnesty option, as well as the opportunity for overstaying foreigners to legalize their Philippine residency[endnoteRef:5] [5: "Santiago, Miriam Defensor." Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. Accessed January 25, 2016. http://www.rmaf.org.ph/newrmaf/main/awardees/awardee/profile/177.]

Major Awards[endnoteRef:6] [6: Defensor Santiago, Miriam. "Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago Curriculum Vitae." Senate of the Philippines, 16th Congress. August 2014. Accessed January 25, 2016. http://senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/santiago_cvitae.asp.]

Order of Civil Merit, by the Kingdom of Spain (2008) The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World, by The Australian (magazine) (1996) Magsaysay Award for Government Service, by the Magsaysay Awards Foundation (1988) The Outstanding Young Men Award for Law, by the Philippine Jaycees (1985) The Outstanding Women in the Nations Service Award for Law, by the Philippine Lions, (1986) Most Outstanding Alumna in Law, University of the Philippines (1988) Gold Vision Triangle Award for government service, YMCA Philippines (1988) Republic Anniversary Award for Law enforcement by the Civic Assembly of Women of the Philippines (1988) Golden Jubilee Achievement Award for public service, Girl Scouts of the Philippines (1990)Publications[endnoteRef:7] [7: "Books by Miriam Defensor Santiago." Amazon.com. Accessed January 25, 2016. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_pg_2?rh=n:283155,p_27:Miriam Defensor Santiago.]

Multiple textbooks on constitutional law, reform politics in the Philippines, international relations and international law, politics and religions, corruption laws, the 1972 Constitution, the National Internal Revenue Code, and fighting election fraud Stupid is Forevermore (2015) Stupid is Forever (2014) Inventing Myself: An Autobiography (1994) The Miriam Dictionary (1991)Other Poor record of senate attendance, including multiple periods of indefinite leave, due to her chronic health conditions. She has said that her Stage 4 lung cancer is in regression[endnoteRef:8] [8: Calonzo, Andreo. "Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago Has Lung Cancer."GMA News, July 2, 2014. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/368289/news/nation/sen-miriam-defensor-santiago-has-lung-cancer. ]

Participatory Decision- Making Accused of humiliating a fellow lawyer during the impeachment trial of Corona, by berating him viciously and publicly[endnoteRef:9] [9: Nieva-Nishimori, Aleta. "Saguisag Says Miriam Set a Bad Example."ABS-CBN News, January 31, 2012. http://news.abs-cbn.com/-depth/01/31/12/saguisag-says-miriam-set-bad-example.]

Asked by the clergy to refrain from using foul language in criticizing others during Coronas impeachment trial, saying that the dignity of a person must be respected, regardless of whether he is poor or a criminal[endnoteRef:10] [10: Tubeza, Philip C. "Clergyman Asks Santiago to Watch Her Language."Inquirer.Net. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/154437/clergyman-asks-santiago-to-watch-her-language. ]

Pro-Poor Programs

Allegations Was found to have violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in 2001 for exhibiting manifest partiality when approving the applications of aliens as Commissioner on Immigration and Deportation in 1988.[endnoteRef:11] [11: Defensor Santiago vs. Sandiganbayan (April 18, 2001).http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2001/apr2001/gr_128055_2001.html]

Allegedly used her pork barrel to construct a cockpit arena disguised as a sports complex, and used her Senate funds to pay rent on a family-owned building[endnoteRef:12] [12: Ager, Maila. "Lacson Beats Santiago to the Punch, Exposes Her "Sins""Inquirer.net, February 14, 2013. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/358601/lacson-beats-santiago-to-the-punch-exposes-her-sins.]

Actions to Improve EthicsMisc. Actions One of eleven senators who voted against opening the envelope that allegedly contained incriminating evidence against former President Estrada. She says her vote was because the envelope was not included in the original list of evidence and she was adhering to the proper legal procedure[endnoteRef:13] [13: Calonzo, Andreo. "Miriam: Learn From Erap Trial and Let Public See Evidence."GMA News, January 24, 2012. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/245548/news/nation/miriam-learn-from-erap-trial-and-let-public-see-evidence.]

Had a group of spectators thrown out of the session hall during the Estrada impeachment trial for looking at [her] in a provocative way[endnoteRef:14] [14: Macaraig, Ayee. "Corona on Trial: Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago."Rappler, January 28, 2012. http://www.rappler.com/nation/special-coverage/corona-trial/87-cast-of-characters/1193-sen-miriam-defensor-santiago.]

Threatened to out another senators true sexuality in a radio interview, then threatened to sue him for libel if he responded to her[endnoteRef:15] [15: Ager, Maila. "Lacson Beats Santiago to the Punch, Exposes Her "Sins""Inquirer.net, February 14, 2013. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/358601/lacson-beats-santiago-to-the-punch-exposes-her-sins.]

Criticizes UP students for being arrogant and self-centered, despite being a UP alumnus herself[endnoteRef:16] [16: Ager, Maila. "UP Students, Politicians Slammed in Santiago's Graduation Speech."Inquirer.net, April 9, 2013. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/387711/up-students-politicians-slammed-in-santiagos-graduation-speech. ]