Philippine Blog Awards 2010Miriam Santiago Wins Judge Position in International Criminal Court (ICC)
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago has been elected judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to the Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
Santiago unanimously won the highly powerful seat in the elections held last Monday, December 12, in New York City. She was reportedly the first to be elected out of 18 candidates vying for six seats on the ICC, garnering 79 nods out of 104 valid votes.
The stint makes Santiago the first woman from an Asian developing state to join as a judge in the Netherlands-based international court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern.
DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario considers Santiago’s election a “day of pride” for the country.
“We are pleased that the international community has listened to us. Indeed, it is a new day for the Philippines, a day of pride for our country and a day of honor, knowing that this is a tremendous responsibility and mandate placed upon our compatriot,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senator Santiago shared via an interview that she would resign as senator before she take her oath in March next year.
“I’ll have to resign [as senator]. Isn’t that good news for my enemies? I would have to live in The Hague. I will look like a European and speak like a European and I will be as snooty as a European when I come back,” she said.
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