Transcript of interview with Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago

On today's Senate caucus We submitted in writing what our committee preferences were, which were basically for maintenance of the status quo. Kung ano yung committee naming ngayon, yun na rin ang gusto naming para wala kaming conflict. My committees will be foreign relations and energy. Hati-hati kami sa Commission on Appointments, tig-one-and-a-half years kami. Basically that's what we arrived at. We agreed also that we will follow tradition in the Senate. Normally, the majority expresses its committee preferences, and those committees which are not covered by the list of the majority are given to the minority without opposition from the majority. That's what we'll do. There will be enough major committees even for the opposition members. It is the tradition in the Senate that it is the majority who get the major committees. And most of us in the present majority are already holding major committees. We just don't want to disturb the status quo anymore.

On the Senate blue-ribbon committee

We decided to postpone discussion about it because it is so contentious. We are of the position that it should go to an administration senator, but who the senator will be is strictly under advisement. We suspended discussions, and we will just decide later when it becomes necessary; so that in effect we can call the senate president, and if there's no contentious issue with the opposition, let's appoint those committee chairs who are not being contended against so that we can start working.

I'm not at liberty to say who will be the chair of the Senate blue-ribbon committee because it will embarrass the nominee who will not get it and it will tie the hands of the senate president as if we are preempting him.

On her nomination to the International Court of Justice

I'm very happy about it. Although I know it will be extremely difficult because I will be representing not myself but a developing country. Generally, in this international voting, it is the candidates of developed countries who are certain of victory. A candidate of a developing country must work twice as hard because the decision is not made on the individual merits and qualifications but on the diplomatic clout of the country concerned. So this will be a ballgame in the court of Secretary Romulo. It will depend on how amiable and congenial his working relationship is with the other foreign ministers. But I'm very honored to have been nominated, and President Arroyo in doing that is actually trying to follow in the footsteps of President Macapagal who was able to get Chief Justice Cesar Bengzon elected to the International Court of Justice. So she's hoping that history will repeat itself. She started the ball rolling by announcing my nomination to the ICJ.

On giving up her Senate seat if she gets elected in the ICJ

Yes, of course, I will give up my seat. Actually the election will be held next year, but that's how long it takes to campaign on the part of DFA. The ICJ term begins 2009, and my term expires in 2010, so I would have served anyway my constituency.

On campaigning for the ICJ

Well, every time there's an international conference, the government will distribute my brochures. As the period for the submission of official nominations approaches, I will have to have one-on-one meetings with groups of ambassadors so that they will have the opportunity to meet me face-to-face and determine if I have the personality of a judge. Normally, a judge will be considered sober, and I am proud to say that when I was in the RTC, I got my TOYM and other awards because I was a sober judge.