Former senator Miriam Defensor Santiago dies at age 71

Former Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, 71, succumbed to cancer on Thursday morning, her husband Atty. Jun Santiago said.

"She died peacefully in her sleep this morning," Santiago said.

The former lawmaker passed away while confined at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City.

Her official Twitter account posted a message midmorning that former Sen. Santiago died at 8:52 a.m.

Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago died peacefully today at 8:52 a.m. Details of the interment will be announced later. (1/2)

— Miriam Santiago (@senmiriam) September 29, 2016

Her remains will be brought to Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Cubao.

Earlier this month, she was brought to St. Luke's for cancer treatment. She stayed there until her death Thursday, Atty. Santiago confirmed.

It was in 2014 when the former lawmaker said that she had stage 4 lung cancer.

Born in Iloilo City on June 15, 1945, the former senator ran for president in the May 2016 elections but lost to Rodrigo Duterte. She also sought the presidency in 1992 (won by Fidel Ramos) and 1998 (won by Joseph Estrada).

Santiago has been dubbed as the "Iron Lady of Asia" for her no-nonsense drive against graft and corruption when she served all the three branches of the government—judicial, executive, and legislative.

"In a nation where many public officials are charged with, or suspected, of plunder, her honesty shines like a light in the darkness," her Senate biography read. — KG, GMA News