Nagpaabot ng pakikiramay ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sa pamilya ng namayapang si Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago na binawian ng buhay sa kanyang pagtulog noong Huwebes habang nilalabanan ang sakit na stage 4 lung cancer.

Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ni Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr., AFP spokesman, na sa pagpanaw ng matapang na Senator, nawalan ng brilliant mind sa politika ang bansa.

“The Chief of Staff and the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) extends its sincerest condolences to the family of the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago,” sabi ni Padilla.

“We have lost a brilliant legislator, a no nonsense executive, a feisty crime & graft buster, a committed public servant and an intellectual giant among Filipinos,” dagdag niya.

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Sinabi rin ni Padilla na binigyang-karangalan ni Defensor ang bansa sa pamana nito ng tapat, hindi makasarili at mataimtim na serbisyo.

“We proudly salute you Madam senator! Rest in peace!,” sabi ni Padilla.

Ang kapatid ni Santiago, si retired Air Force Gen. Benjamin Defensor, ay nagsilbing AFP chief of staff sa administrasyon ni dating Pangulo at ngayo’y Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

REBELDE, NAGBIGAY-PUGAY

Nagbigay-pugay din ang Communist Party of the Philippines kay Santiago.

Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ng CPP na ang namayapang Senador ay kaalyado ng partido sa pagtatakwil sa mga polisiya gaya ng Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) at Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

“Although she approached the matter from her advocacy of constitutionalism, one can gleam a deep sense of patriotism and a profound loathing for the presence of foreign troops on Philippine soil,” sabi ng CPP.

“Her passing away comes at a most unfortunate point in history when the Filipino people’s struggle against the presence of US military troops is at a juncture as the Duterte regime has made a stand to promote an independent foreign policy and oppose US war exercises in the country, a radical shift from seven decades of servility to US interests.

“The Filipino people will remember Sen. Santiago for her crusade against corruption.”

Alinsunod sa kanyang kahilingan, ililibing si Santiago sa tabi ng kanyang anak na si Alexander, ngayong araw sa Loyola Memorial Park sa Marikina City. - Francis T. Wakefield at Yas D. Ocampo