NEWSFLASH

MIRIAM DEFENSOR HOSTS VISAYAN RADIO DRAMA

Manila, May 8, 2000 - Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago will be a comforting mother giving free legal advice to troubled citizens in the Visayas and Mindanao through a weekly radio drama program called ''Kinsay Akong Kadangpan'' (Whom Shall I Seek) to be aired over Radio Mindanao Network.

Santiago’s true-to-life weekly program begins with dramatization of a letter-sender’s story or predicament. She then explains the legal implications of the letter-sender’s problem and gives legal advice at the end of the program.

She finally agreed to host a radio program after turning down several offers from different television and radio stations in the past years, believing that the show would be an effective vehicle in addressing the common woes of Filipinos.

"My office receives thousands of letters in a month from people who are asking for legal advice. So I decided to accept the offer to host a weekly radio program so I would be able to answer their problems," she said.

"Kinsay Akong Kadangpan" will have its premiere broadcast this Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Davao and General Santos City over RMN after taking several Visayan cities by storm in April this year.

Santiago’s radio program drew an instantaneous response from the Visayas few weeks ago and prompted the producers to air the same program in Mindanao’s key cities.

"No amount of words can assuage the deep grief of a mother who has lost her child. Such tragic incidents can be prevented if the police and the school authorities will be more vigilant in protecting young students," Santiago said.

On the other hand, the radio program is now on its second month in Cebu, Leyte, Surigao, Dumaguete, Bohol and Dipolog where the program’s title "Kinsay Akong Kadangpan" is fast becoming a byword among radio listeners. It is aired over Cebu’s leading radio station DYHP (RMN) from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Sunday.

Santiago’s radio drama program is part of her Legal Outreach Program started in 1995 when she was elected as senator. Unknown to the public, Santiago has been providing free legal consultations at her headquarters to help those without the means to secure the best lawyers to their defense.

She has given legal advice to thousands of people in the past five years with cases ranging from criminal to civil in nature. Her office receives an average of five walk-in clients a day.

"The first thing that lawyers must do to their clients is to give them peace of mind because these people may have had many sleepless nights already,” she said.

When asked why they seek out Santiago’s legal advice, most of the respondents unanimously pointed out Santiago’s impressive academic track record and described the Ilongga senator as "intelligent, brilliant and brave."