Miriam no longer keen on UN court

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago declared yesterday that she was no longer interested in getting a seat at the United Nations’ International Criminal Court.

She said she is going to write a letter to acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Lauro Baja requesting the government to withdraw her nomination.

Baja earlier said that Santiago should choose between re-election and her candidacy for a seat in the UN tribunal which will try war crimes in the former Yugoslavia.

Baja said a member of the international court must stay for at least three months a year, for four years, in the Hague, Netherlands.

Santiago considered Baja’s statement to make a choice as an intimidation and punishment because of her association with the former Estrada administration.

"I do not value this candidacy for myself as much as I do for my country, and if I am being punished for my association with the Estrada administration, then I will accept the punishment as a person but I am not going to be intimidated," she said.

She said she is thinking very seriously about running for re-election. She has been endorsed to the senatorial ticket of Laban, the Nationalist People’s Coalition and the Partido ng Masang Pilipino.

Meanwhile, Sen. Gregorio Honasan III announced yesterday that he will seek a second term as an independent candidate. — Efren Danao