Miriam extends sick leave, defers stint as ICC judge

MANILA, Philippines - Still suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has been forced to not only extend her sick leave from the Senate but to postpone her stint as a judge in the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a letter sent to Senate President Franklin Drilon last Thursday, Santiago said she would still be unable to report to work regularly at the Senate but would “as much as possible, be physically present in the Senate for extremely limited periods if I am medically up to my duties.”

Santiago, who has not been seen at the Senate since last year because of her ailment, said she would be able to preside over the hearing of the committee on foreign affairs of the Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday where the nominations of 14 ambassadors would be taken up for confirmation.

Based on her letter, a copy of which she furnished to the Senate media, Santiago would still not be able to attend the plenary sessions of the Senate.

Apart from the CA committee, Santiago is also chair of the Senate committees on foreign relations and constitutional amendments.

“This is to respectfully notify that I am compelled to go on extended sick leave from my Senate duties, in view of my continuing illness known as chronic fatigue syndrome, as supported by the enclosed medical certification issued by Dr. Joven Cuanang, Medical Director, St. Luke’s Medical Center,” Santiago said in her letter.

In his medical certification, Cuanang said Santiago continues to suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, which he described as a “long-standing severe and disabling fatigue, without a proven physical or psychological cause.”

“By definition, this syndrome reveals unexplained fatigue that lasts for six months or longer and severe enough to interfere with daily activities, such as her Senate work,” Cuanang said.

“Her severe fatigue is present upon awakening and persists throughout the day. The fatigue worsens with physical exertion, such as when she delivers a speech or gives a press conference,” he added.

Santiago was elected as a judge in the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands in December 2011.

She was not required to immediately report to work there because the incumbent judge who she would be replacing was still in the process of completing some pending work.

The letter of Santiago to Drilon was the first definite date that Santiago has disclosed as far as her need to report to the ICC is concerned.

“I am scheduled to report to the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands, next month. However, I intend to file a parallel request for permission to report by January 2014, considering that by definition, chronic fatigue takes at least six months and usually more, to recover,” she said.

Santiago is the first Filipino and the first Asian from a developing country to be elected as judge to the ICC.