Miriam to let go of ICC post if she remains sick by year-end

If her health doesn't improve by year-end, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago will no longer assume her post in the International Criminal Court (ICC), an independent body based in the Netherlands that prosecutes individuals for crimes against humanity and war crimes

In an interview Friday, Santiago said she has already informed the ICC of her acute chronic fatigue, adding she plans to ask the international court to give her until December to assume the post.

"I will, in fact, tell them that they give me three months more because they expect me there September. If I'm still not fit, I will simply waive, if I'm allowed, my election," she said.

Santiago, who was elected to the ICC in December 2011, said she has been suffering from lack of balance and shortness of breath due to her condition, but still managed to joke about it.

"That [not going to the ICC] will be unfortunate for my political enemies who keep wanting to send me to the ICC... I'm afraid I'm just one of those ghosts that keep appearing in Philippine history," the feisty lawmaker said.

Last year, Santiago said she still has to wait for a sitting ICC judge to finish all of his or her pending cases before she can assume her post in the body. Her term as senator ends in 2016.

Still won't show up at the Senate

In the same interview, Santiago, who is currently on medical leave as a senator, said she has no plans of returning to the Senate yet.

She said she plans to go to the United States for treatment when the Senate goes on break in October.

"There is no prospect at this time for me to return to the Senate... I'm a wreck. I'm really frightened that I might lose my temper in the Senate and get a stroke," Santiago said.

She added that showing up at the Senate may aggravate her chronic fatigue.

"Malubha ang sakit ko. Ikaw ba naman ang mag-isang dosenang taon sa Senado. Hindi ka ba naman ma-toxic poisoning," she said.

Although Santiago fails to attend Senate session, she has accepted speaking engagements during the past months. On Friday, she spoke to medical practitioners.

Senate President Franklin Drilon has earlier said Santiago will continue receiving her P35,000 monthly salary as senator despite her absences. — KBK, GMA News