Manila: Philippines' feisty Senator Miriam Santiago won a nine-year term as judge of the Hague-based International Criminal Court, an independent body that handles war crimes and complaints against powerful people who are blamed for war against humanity.
She need not go through a second round because she received 79 votes, ICC media officer Tom Tolibas told GMA News.
She was one of 19 contenders to the post vacated by six ICC judges this year. One of the six seats was reserved for Asia. Next year, she will be one of ICC's 18 judges.
It was a victory for the Philippines in the international legal community, said Santiago in a TV interview, adding the Philippines "stands as a champion of human rights and the rule of law".
"As long as I'm not called by the ICC in The Hague, I shall remain in my present job," said Santiago, adding her oath-taking was scheduled on March 2012
Her term as a senator would end in 2016.
In a joking manner, Santiago said her foes also campaigned for her to win an ICC seat.
She was nominated by Philippine President Benigno Aquino. Manila's Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Philippine envoy to the United Nations Libran Cabactulan campaigned for her abroad.
The Philippines was one of the 117 states that ratified the Rome Statute, which was the basis for the establishment of the ICC.
In 2008, Santiago lost her bid for a seat at the International Court of Justice.
