Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said on Friday that she was already rethinking her political life.
The three-term senator is currently undergoing treatment for cancer and pneumonia at the Makati Medical Center (MMC). Last Wednesday, a statement from her husband said the lawmaker was admitted to MMC’s intensive care unit (ICU), but the next day it was announced that she was moved back to a regular room after her condition had become stable.
Santiago, who has served in all three branches of government, admitted that her political life was “very soul-devastating.” She ran in the recent elections but lost to Rodrigo Duterte — with the official tally showing her landing in the last spot.
She had served as Immigration commissioner and Agrarian Reform secretary during the presidency of Corazon Aquino. She was also a regional trial court judge, who issued decisions that defied the Marcos regime during the martial law years.
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In 2011, Santiago was also elected as judge of the International Criminal Court — but she left the post three years after, citing health reasons.
Prior to the 2016 polls, Santiago also ran — and lost — in the 1992 and 1998 presidential elections.
During her first defeat, Santiago challenged the victory of Fidel Ramos before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal. She lost to the Lakas-NUCD candidate by less than one million votes. Her protest was later dismissed after she ran and won a Senate seat in 1995.
CNN Philippines correspondent Anna Estanislao contributed to this report.
