Immaculate Conception Chapel, Cubao, Quezon City
October 2, 2016

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte paid his final respects to the late Senator and former presidential rival Miriam Defensor-Santiago past midnight at the Immaculate Conception Chapel in Cubao, Quezon City.

The President spent a few moments in solemn prayer before extending his condolences to the widower, Atty. Narciso Santiago Jr., and the late senator’s brother, former General Benjamin Defensor. Also joining them is Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos.

Earlier in the night, close relatives and friends of Senator Miriam Santiago gave their eulogy at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Among them is the wife of Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero and actress Heart Evangelista who referred to the late senator as her fairy godmother, best friend and mother.

From the moment her wake was opened for public viewing, throngs of supporters of the late senator trooped to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral — with the viewing line ending near the Betty Go-Belmonte Light Rail Transit (LRT) Station (approximately 570 miles).

It was already past midnight that the senator’s remains had been transferred back to the chapel and public viewing had been restricted. Later in the day (October 2, 2016), a mass will be held at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. She will be interred at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina and will be laid to rest next to her son.

The late Senator was diagnosed with stage-4 lung cancer back in 2014. Despite enrolling in a series of therapies, she succumbed to her illness on Thursday morning (September 29, 2016) at the St. Luke’s Global Hospital in Taguig City. She was 71.

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