Praises and love should have been heaped upon Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago when she was still alive, her husband Jun Santiago said.
Mr. Santiago made the emotional remarks past noon, when he was greeted by the media on his way inside the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Grottos, where the wake is ongoing.
"'Yung pagmamahal at papuri sa kaniya, sana naigawa nu'ng buhay pa siya," he said. "Dahil ang buhay niya—kamukha ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte—binuhos nila sa pagsisilbi sa bayan at sa tao."
"Pero nu'ng buhay pa siya, hindi nabigyan, e," he added before walking inside the wake.
Mr. Santiago later apologized to the media for being emotional, saying he saw tributes for his wife in the papers. Then he reiterated: "Sana nu'ng buhay pa ginawa 'yan."
She was 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.
Miriam was also known for being feisty, especially at Senate proceedings, as well as her wit and a penchant for pick-up and "hugot" lines that endeared her to the youth.
She ran for president thrice, her last attempt earlier this year, when she placed fifth in the race led by then-Davao Mayor Duterte.